By Manal El Warraky
Today, before the African Union Peace and Security Council, Morocco called for an ethical, responsible, beneficial, and sovereign African artificial intelligence.
In a speech delivered via videoconference to the ministerial meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, which Morocco chairs for the month of March, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, said, “The future of artificial intelligence in Africa cannot ignore the need to build African artificial intelligence, by Africa and for Africa. The artificial intelligence we seek must be ethical, responsible, and adapted to our reality.”
In this regard, Minister Bourita, who chaired this ministerial meeting, held on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on Peace, Security, and Governance in Africa,” called for mobilization and collective action to make AI a true lever for development, peace, and security for Africans. He emphasized that Morocco, aware of this reality, is determined, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, to contribute to Africa’s advancement in the field of artificial intelligence, reaffirming the Kingdom’s strong and dynamic commitment to the emergence of a unified African leadership in the field of artificial intelligence.
The Minister highlighted the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence represents for the African continent, explaining that while artificial intelligence is a tool for development and progress for humanity, it is also a double-edged sword, as if misused, it can exacerbate divisions, fuel instability, and become a destructive tool in the hands of non-state actors. He emphasized that the numbers speak for themselves, with the rate of fake videos increasing by 900% since 2019, cyberattacks using artificial intelligence increasing by 300% between 2019 and 2022, 40% of terrorist groups using drones in their attacks, and 47 countries affected by disinformation campaigns in 2023, directly impacting their democratic processes.
In the face of these challenges, Minister Bourita emphasized the need for Africa to position itself as a key player in the global governance of artificial intelligence, noting that AI not only represents a challenge related to security and stability, but also represents an important driver of economic growth. By 2030, the Moroccan minister added, AI is expected to inject $15.7 billion into the global economy, increase agricultural production by 10 to 15%, and accelerate the growth rate of some countries by 40%.
Mr. Bourita stressed the need for Africa to overcome structural gaps in order to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence, noting that 60% of Africa’s population does not yet have access to the internet, less than 2% of the data used in artificial intelligence is located on the continent, and only 1% of global AI talent is located in Africa.
To overcome these challenges, Morocco has proposed a series of concrete measures, including the creation of an African AI Fund, the establishment of an African strategy for data collection and optimization, and the launch of an intensive training program to create an African AI elite.
Mr. Bourita added that the Kingdom, a leader in Africa in the field of artificial intelligence, has already launched important initiatives in this regard, including the “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, which aims to train 100,000 talents annually, and the launch of a national program to introduce children to artificial intelligence, two weeks ago. He also noted that the Kingdom also hosts the first African UNESCO Center dedicated to artificial intelligence (Ai Movement), based in Rabat.
At the international level, Mr. Bourita highlighted that Morocco played a key role in adopting the first UN resolutions on artificial intelligence and co-founded the Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development, which includes more than 70 countries.
In his speech, Mr. Bourita also called for coordinated and concrete African action, emphasizing that “inaction is our common enemy.” In this regard, the Kingdom proposed institutionalizing an African network of national AI centers and establishing a committee of African experts to monitor the implementation of the continental strategy.
Finally, Mr. Bourita reiterated Morocco’s desire to work alongside its African partners to make artificial intelligence a tool for development and stability, recalling King Mohammed VI’s affirmation that Africa must believe in its capabilities and take matters into its own hands.
The Moroccan minister concluded, “Artificial intelligence will not wait for us to be ready. It is already here, reshaping the balance of power. The choice is simple: either we unite to control this transformation, or we will suffer the consequences.”
