Sierra Leone's President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, has urged African nations to take an active role in shaping the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape to avoid repeating historical patterns of economic extraction. Speaking at a roundtable hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, President Bio emphasised the need for Africa to participate in shaping the technologies that will redefine the global economy. He questioned whether Africa would be a passive recipient of AI systems built elsewhere or actively shape the infrastructure and regulatory rules that dictate value creation and distribution.
President Bio proposed a concept of "shared sovereignty," where African countries would develop what they can independently while forming partnerships for larger projects. This approach aims to protect national assets and collaborate with external partners on terms that prioritise African interests. It would enable countries to share resources while maintaining control over key national issues. He noted that no single African nation can develop the entire AI infrastructure alone, but Africa should not let others dictate its digital future.
President Bio highlighted Africa's significant infrastructure deficit, with the continent comprising about one-fifth of the global population but holding only a small fraction of the world's data centre capacity. He warned that this imbalance could lead to Africa becoming merely a supplier of raw materials while others benefit from developing and monetising valuable technologies. To address this, Sierra Leone, with backing from the World Bank Group, is creating its first national AI strategy.
President Bio emphasised the need for practical solutions to local challenges, stressing that effective AI must operate in the real world. He noted that AI tools should be compatible with mobile phones, effective in low-bandwidth situations, and able to understand African languages and cultural contexts. He asked whether AI tools could aid farmers in gaining insights into their crops, healthcare workers in making better choices, or teachers in helping their students.
President Bio suggested innovative regional arrangements for data hosting, proposing the concept of regional data embassies to ensure that critical public data is securely managed in a partnering state. He stated that sovereignty should move with the law, not just the building. He further warned against reverting to extractive economic practices and highlighted the importance of investing in African talent, research, languages, and innovation ecosystems.
President Bio's goal is to shift from "mine to model," enabling African countries to play a significant role in the value chain, moving from raw material extraction to the creation of technology and services. He urged African nations to proactively engage in establishing global AI regulations rather than waiting for decisions to be made elsewhere. Collaboration on data governance, capacity building, safety, and regulatory frameworks is essential, he noted.
President Bio invited governments, investors, and businesses to continue discussions at the inaugural West Africa Integration and Investment Summit on 17-18 November 2026 in Sierra Leone, where practical frameworks for shared AI sovereignty could be developed. He expressed commitment to shared sovereignty with other nations to ensure that Africa does not leave future generations with a legacy of diminished data rights and economic potential.
Key points
- President Bio proposes a concept of "shared sovereignty" to enable African countries to shape AI infrastructure and regulations.
- Africa's significant infrastructure deficit could lead to the continent becoming a supplier of raw materials while others benefit from developing and monetising valuable technologies.
- President Bio urges African nations to proactively engage in establishing global AI regulations to avoid repeating historical patterns of economic extraction.
