Zindi and Cassava in DC tie-up, AI turns African herbs to medicine
Africa AI News weekly digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
Busy week in AI in Africa, with a number of conferences and expos, but also some funding news where projects are getting access to the resources they need. This is driving a host of application developments, many in healthcare.
As always, let us know if you’ve seen a great new application of AI tech that you want to share with the African AI community (just hit “reply” and it’ll get to the editors).
We highlighted in last week’s digest a number of voices being raised in the African countries that took an ambitious early policy and strategy lead in AI, but where actual execution is slow. This theme continues this week, with parliamentarians in Tanzania demanding more concrete action, and a concern being raised is how global multinationals are helpfully inserting themselves in policy process, subtly bending governments towards their interests.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Funding
AI network Zindi hooks up with Cassava for better DC access
#Africa #DCs #hosted — Zindi, a networking platform for African AI developers, and Cassava Technologies, operator of Africa Data Centres, will collaborate on AI development across Africa. The agreement includes GPUaaS integration, local challenge programmes, and initiatives to support homegrown AI talent and drive responsible innovation. (Africa.com)
ANAVA backs Tunisia tech startups with €3.5m boost
#Tunisia #funding — ANAVA has invested €3.5 million in New Era Fund I, which has raised €7 million so far towards its €15 million target. Managed by UGFS-VC, the fund will support Series A tech startups in Tunisia, focusing on AI, biotechnology and green tech. (TechAfrica News)
Nokia and Morocco partner to drive Digital Morocco 2030
#Morocco #telecom – Nokia has signed an MoU with Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition to support the country’s Digital Morocco 2030 strategy. The deal includes boosting national 5G and fibre coverage, training young talent, and launching a national digital fabric using Nokia’s Network as Code platform. A new Nokia Innovation Center will support R&D and the Al Jazari innovation initiative. (Zawya)
Egypt allocates EGP 13B for CIT sector in FY 2025/26
#Egypt #budget — Egypt’s FY 2025/26 development plan allocates EGP 13B ($260M) in public investments for the communications and IT sector, including EGP 9B ($180M) from the state budget. The plan targets infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity, AI adoption, and localisation of IT industries. (Amwal Al Ghad)
China and Zambia rally global support for AI access
#Zambia #policy — In a UN event focused on AI capacity-building, China and Zambia reaffirmed their leadership in the Group of Friends, an initiative empowering developing nations. The session attracted participation from over 70 countries and several global institutions. (China Global TV Network)
Policy
Tanzania’s Parliament pushes for AI regulation
#Tanzania #policy #technology — MPs in Tanzania have demanded clear laws to monitor AI, highlighting risks of misuse and the need to protect vulnerable populations. The call came during an AI training session backed by digital learning provider Omuka, the German development agency GIZ, and the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Institute. (The Citizen)
Ghana targets responsible AI with UK-backed plan
#Ghana #policy — Ghana is advancing its AI agenda with a stakeholder consultation led by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) through its Responsible AI Lab (RAIL). Supported by the British High Commission, a kickoff event held end April focused on shaping a sustainable and equitable national AI framework. (MyJoyOnline)
Ghanaian AI researchers make progress in the face of headwinds
#Ghana #policy #applications — Related: interview in the Labari Journal with Dr. Paul Azunre, co-founder of Ghana NLP, a natural language processing (NLP) systems for Ghanaian languages. He lays out how global multinationals present an altruistic face, but don’t address systemic inequities. (Labari Journal)
Google helps policymakers policymake
#Africa #Ethiopia #Google #policy — Related: Google is helping countries develop their policies with a training programs including the “AI Sprinters” course aimed at giving government officials practical skills in emerging tech. Done in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), this project sounds a little sinister when read after the previous story. (New Business Ethiopia)
SA thinktank warns of fake journalists creating fake content
#Africa #policy #media — Many don’t trust “mainstream media” much, but they still trust its main source of stories: real journalists. SA’s Institute of Security Studies warns of a rapid spread of insta-fake journalists. Investigations by African Digital Democracy Observatory show Israeli firm Percepto created AI avatars to pose as reporters, driving false narratives into African media. Al Jazeera also uncovered pro-Russian propaganda using fake journalists. (ISS Today)
Namibia calls for African-led AI at Paris summits
#Namibia #education — Professor Anicia Peters of Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) advocated for African-focused, ethical AI research at three global AI summits in Paris. Representing Namibia, she urged investment in local talent, infrastructure, and inclusive policy at events hosted under President Macron’s patronage. (The Namibia Economist)
Education
Zambia to embed generative AI in universities
#Zambia #education — Zambia is set to integrate generative AI into higher education, aiming to personalise learning and improve curriculum relevance. The initiative, led by Education Minister Douglas Siakalima, includes 50 AI-enabled classrooms provided by Dazzleview at Mulungushi University and training for over 40 staff. (TechAfrica News)
Standard Bank Malawi invests K15m in robotics challenge
#Malawi #education — Standard Bank Malawi committed K15 million ($10k) to the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, empowering innovators aged 13–19 to showcase local robotics and AI solutions. The event is part of the Malawi Girls Can Code Too project, funded by the Embassy of Ireland and led by UN Women Malawi. (Capital Radio Malawi)
Applications
CureRoot wins for AI-driven African drug innovation
#SouthAfrica #healthtech — CureRoot, an SA biotech start-up, is pioneering drug discovery by merging AI with data on patient outcomes and African flora. The company’s innovative model earned it top honours at the AfricArena Summit 2025. Lab studies are underway to validate promising compounds. (ITWeb Africa)
Emory Uni gets $2.8m to fight malaria with AI in Ethiopia
#Ethiopia #healthtech #research — Emory University has secured $2.8 million from the Gates Foundation for a three-year AI-driven malaria control project in Jigjiga, Semera and Logiya in Ethiopia with local partners, Jigjiga University, University of Addis Ababa and developers of the Zzapp system for map-based mosquito control. The initiative targets Anopheles stephensi larvae in dry-season water sources, raising the spectre of urban malaria outbreaks. (Malaria World)
Conferences
Ethiopia Tech Expo kicks off today
#Ethiopia #conferences — The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and the Information Network Security Administration (INSA) host ETEX 2025 from 16–18 May in Addis Ababa. Organised by QNA, the expo will highlight Ethiopia’s digital progress in cybersecurity, AI, fintech, and smart cities. (Telecom Review Africa)
Zimbabwe to host “AI and jobs” conference
#Zimbabwe #labour — Zimbabwe will host an AI conference on 22 May 2025, organised by the Institute of Global Leadership and Administration (IGLA) and the Artificial Institute Africa. Under the theme “The Future of Jobs: Is Labour Ready for AI?”, it will explore AI’s impact on employment, wages, skills, and labour law. (Newsday Zimbabwe)
Africa Media Convention focusses on AI and journalism end May
#Morocco #conferences #media — The Fourth Africa Media Convention (AMC4) is on in Marrakech from May 29–31, bringing together the continent’s most influential media voices to tackle AI and its impact on African journalism. Held as part of the World Press Freedom Day, the theme is “AI, Press Freedom, and Access to Information: Navigating the Future of African Media”. (African Union)
[ This newsletter was human written and AI spelled]