The African Union is seeking closer coordination among African diplomats as artificial intelligence and digital governance become increasingly important subjects in international negotiations.
A high-level consultation in Geneva on September 7 brought together African ambassadors and permanent representatives accredited to the United Nations, alongside officials from the African Union Commission and its Geneva mission. The meeting focused on coordinating Africa’s engagement in international negotiations on digital and AI policy and governance.
The discussion comes as governments and international institutions work to shape rules and standards for rapidly developing AI technologies. According to the AU, the meeting produced recommendations for more structured preparations and the consolidation of common African positions in multilateral and plurilateral negotiations, including the G20. Participants also discussed building the capacity of African diplomats and negotiators and the possible creation of a network of African tech diplomats.
Africa already has several continental policy frameworks covering digital transformation and AI, including the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, the AU Data Policy Framework, the Africa Digital Compact and the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The Geneva consultation was intended to help translate those frameworks into more coordinated international engagement. The AU’s focus on diplomacy is being accompanied by closer institutional cooperation. On September 7, the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union signed a memorandum of understanding covering digital public infrastructure, trusted AI ecosystems, connectivity and engagement on global digital governance and technical standards.
On September 8, the AU annonced that Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato D. Mataboge had taken part in the inaugural meeting of the AI for Good Global Commission in Geneva.. The commission brings together more than 40 founding members, including heads of state and government, business leaders and representatives of international institutions.
Taken together, these steps point to a growing effort by the AU to coordinate the continent’s participation in discussions that will shape global digital rules. Whether this will translate into greater negotiating influence remains to be seen, but the Geneva consultation shows that the bloc is placing AI and digital governance more firmly within its diplomatic agenda.
