AAIN.com reviews SA AI Policy; Algeria reshuffles its AI strategy
Weekly News Digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest. A fairly slow news week, which is great because the pace of the last quarter has been extreme.
It also gives us a gap to publish the Africa AI News analysis of the South African Draft AI Policy. This document was withdrawn and placed before an august panel of experts for a rethink, led by Wits University’s Professor Benjamin Rothman.
This is definitely a good thing — the original draft was not a bad document, but showed a terrible amount of AI-boosterism groupthink, and a worrying lack of scepticism about the global AI industry and AI technology itself.
This gives South Africa (and other African governments that are watching closely), a chance to make this policy more grounded in reality — reality about the tech, and reality about AI’s actual impact on people and businesses — when it works too well, and when it works very badly.
Read our Deep Dive into the policy here — with easy to digest bite-size chunks.
The Magnifica Humanitas encyclical by the Pope Leo has come at a crucial time … as noted by African commentators, this position paper by the Catholic church looks to define AI as a tool (“talent”) to be used by people, not as autonomous technologies to usurp or supplant them.
Certainly the encyclical is enraging much of the Trump administration, a dutiful water-carrier for Big Tech.
The common thread emerging all over is that AI is an incredible tool of analysis, productivity and automation WHEN DONE UNDER HUMAN CONTROL (the “Human in the Middle” or HITM doctrine), and that cost-benefit thinking needs to be re-established.
On with this week’s issue.
/Roger
Policy
Algeria advances national AI & Dzair rollout plans
#Algeria #policy #digitalgovernment — Algeria’s government has reviewed implementation progress on its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy while advancing deployment of the Dzair Digital Services portal. The platform has completed cybersecurity testing and pilot programmes ahead of launch with 52 digital public services supporting the country’s wider digital transformation agenda. (Middle East AI News)
Mozambique presents draft AI strategy
#Mozambique #policy — Mozambique has presented its draft National AI Strategy at an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) workshop in Kenya, signalling progress towards a national framework for AI governance. The National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies said the strategy is in its final drafting phase, with public consultations underway before submission to the Council of Ministers. (Africa AI News)
Africa’s top tech economies rely on US Big Tech
#Africa #policy — Africa’s four largest technology economies — South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt — have acknowledged heavy dependence on American technology firms in their national AI strategies. Policymakers are pursuing AI sovereignty ambitions but continue to rely on foreign Cloud infrastructure and foundational models, showing the limits in local digital capacity. (iAfrica)
Kenya judiciary plans AI policy for courts
#Kenya #policy — Kenya’s judiciary is preparing an AI Adoption Policy Framework to guide the use of AI in courts and legal practice following concerns over bot-generated filings. Chief Justice Martha Koome said the framework aims to support responsible use while preserving judicial integrity after several cases raised questions about fabricated citations and machine-generated pleadings. (Nation Africa (paywall))
Applications
Tunisia deploys AI for customs screening
#Tunisia #applications #policy — Tunisia Customs has integrated AI into its national cargo screening and risk management system to improve fraud detection and speed up inspections. The machine learning-based platform analyses customs data to identify high-risk transactions. 4,000 customs cases involved seizing of goods worth more than $17m just in the first quarter of 2026. (TechAfrica News)
Zanzibar launches AI drones for malaria fight
#Tanzania #applications #health — Zanzibar has launched an AI-powered drone initiative to strengthen malaria elimination efforts by identifying mosquito breeding sites and improving larval control. Backed by the government of Japan through SORA Technology, the programme will pilot bio-larviciding in selected districts, while training local teams to use digital mapping and drone technologies for disease vector management. (World Health Organization)
Morocco beauty sector adopts AI tools
#Morocco #applications #beauty — Morocco’s beauty industry is increasingly integrating AI-powered skin analysis technologies to deliver more personalised treatments. The Cosmetista Expo North and West Africa in Casablanca saw demonstrations of tools capable of assessing skin conditions within seconds. (The Voice of Africa)
Mozambique tourism agency turns to AI
#Mozambique #applications #tourism — Mozambique’s newly created National Agency for Tourism Development and Investment (Anditur) plans to use AI tools to attract more international visitors and strengthen destination marketing. The agency aims to improve targeting and visitor engagement as the government pushes tourism as a strategic growth sector. (360 Mozambique)
Funding
Egypt backs semiconductor export growth
#Egypt #funding #semiconductors — Egypt’s Export Development Fund and ITIDA have launched a seven-year incentive programme supporting semiconductor design, embedded systems and electronics exports. The initiative rewards companies based on export growth and job creation, aiming to attract multinational investment and incentivise employment across the technology sector. (Middle East AI News)
DCs and CoEs
Zambia signs deal for national AI datacentre
#Zambia #datacentre #policy — Zambia has signed an agreement with Huawei Technologies and the Smart Zambia Institute to develop a national AI datacentre, aimed at expanding digital infrastructure and government services. It will see 5,000 ICT professionals trained by 2028 through Huawei’s Global Academy. (TechAfrica News)
Egypt targets AI data hub with green energy
#Egypt #datacentres — Egypt is advancing plans to become a global AI data centre hub powered by renewable energy. The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy is supporting a major international project in the New Administrative Capital, aligned with Egypt’s target of generating 45 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2028. (State Information Service)
[ This newsletter was human salted and AI spiced ]