Bio Speaks Out on Africa’s Place in Global AI Governance
President Julius Maada Bio has called for greater African participation in shaping global rules on artificial intelligence (AI), warning that developing countries should not be left to adopt standards established elsewhere.
He made the call on Monday, November 9, while addressing a high-level virtual meeting on strengthening international cooperation on frontier AI model security, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron.
President Bio said advanced AI systems must be guided by safety, security, accountability and human oversight, stressing the need for common standards, clear responsibilities for developers and deployers, and international mechanisms for reporting serious incidents and sharing information on emerging threats.
He emphasised that African countries must have a meaningful role in global AI governance, while international cooperation should respect national sovereignty.
“No country can adequately address these challenges on its own. Sovereignty does not mean doing everything alone. It means choosing the terms on which we work together,” he said.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s progress, Bio disclosed that the country had completed a National AI Readiness Assessment, which is informing the development of its first National AI Strategy. He added that the Government was exploring AI applications in agriculture, healthcare, education and public services, alongside investments in digital infrastructure and regional cooperation through ECOWAS.
He also highlighted a proposed Regional Data Embassy Framework to expand shared digital infrastructure while safeguarding national jurisdiction and control over data.
President Bio welcomed proposals for a Paris Declaration on frontier AI security, which include common evaluation standards, accountability measures, incident reporting and stronger international cooperation.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s readiness to work with international partners to harness AI benefits while protecting human safety, national sovereignty and human control.
Comments