Smart Africa CEO advocates for equal EU-Africa partnership to shape future of artificial intelligence

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa, Lacina Koné, has advocated for a strengthened and equitable partnership between Africa and Europe in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, emphasizing trust, sovereign infrastructure and local value creation as core pillars of collaboration.

Speaking at the EU-Africa AI Tech Business Offer Event, Koné underscored the need for a co-developed approach to AI governance and deployment, arguing that Africa must not only participate in the global AI revolution but actively help define its direction and outcomes.

Lacina Koné stated that the future of artificial intelligence should be built on trust-based cooperation, strengthened digital sovereignty, and partnerships that ensure African countries derive tangible economic and technological value from emerging AI systems.

He stressed that the conversation has shifted beyond inclusion to influence, noting that the critical question is no longer whether Africa will be part of the AI transformation, but whether the continent will help shape it alongside global partners.

Smart Africa, a continental digital transformation initiative, continues to advocate for coordinated policy frameworks, infrastructure development and skills enhancement to position African countries as active contributors in the global digital economy.

The remarks come amid increasing global attention on AI governance, data sovereignty and cross-border digital cooperation, as governments and industry players seek to establish frameworks that balance innovation with equitable development outcomes.