New African AI council to examine impact of technology on citizens
The Africa Public Interest AI Council will commission research, hold public discussions and advise governments as countries develop artificial intelligence policies.
A new council has been established to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) policies across Africa affect ordinary citizens, democratic participation, cultural expression and shared prosperity as governments develop frameworks for the technology.
The Africa Public Interest AI Council (APiAC), convened by the Samawati Collective comprises six members with expertise in journalism, governance, open technology, language AI, data infrastructure and fintech.
The council will commission research, convene public discussions, issue policy advisories to governments and other councils, and provide public input on philanthropic investment directions, according to the press release.
Its establishment comes as African governments accelerate efforts to develop AI policies.
The African Union adopted its Continental AI Strategy in July 2024, when only six countries — Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda and Senegal — had established standalone national AI strategies, according to the release.
The release states that 67 countries globally developed national frameworks between 2017 and 2023. The AU’s first implementation phase runs from 2025 to 2026, ahead of a scheduled midterm review in 2027.
The council’s formation also comes amid concerns about the representation of African languages in AI systems. A 2025 study on major language models found that only 42 of Africa’s roughly 2,000 languages were supported, with only four — Amharic, Swahili, Afrikaans and Malagasy — receiving consistent coverage, according to the release.
In Kenya, the release cites Trust Lab researchers who identified 17 major coordinated disinformation campaigns in 2025.
It also references an Anthropic misuse report that noted the removal of an account used by a single actor to mass-produce Kenyan political content ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Maurice Otieno, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Samawati Collective, said the council was established to address the limited attention given to the impact of AI on ordinary people.
“We kept seeing the same pattern in rooms where AI strategy was being decided,” said Maurice Otieno, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Samawati Collective.
“Plenty of expertise on infrastructure, investment, and regulation, and very little on what any of it means for ordinary people. We didn’t want to build another institution to fill that gap. We wanted a small group of independent minds who could say, in public, what others in those rooms can’t or won’t.”
Kofi Yeboah, Program Officer at the Mozilla Foundation, highlighted the importance of public participation in setting AI standards.
“The infrastructure gap gets all the headlines, but a gap in who decides is harder to close,” said Kofi Yeboah, Program Officer at the Mozilla Foundation.“Openness and accountability can’t be bolted on after the systems are built. Africa has to help write those norms.
John-Allan Namu, Founder and Journalist at Africa Uncensored Limited, said the accountability questions surrounding AI also apply to algorithms that influence what voters see.
“My job is to ask who holds power and who answers for it,” said Namu.
“Those questions now apply to algorithms that shape what voters see. Newsrooms need to be asking them before 2027, not after,” he added.
Maha Jouini, AI Governance Expert and Founder of Chifaa, said AI frameworks should protect people with the least power.
“Every government is drafting a framework right now,” said.
“The test of each one is simple: does it protect the person with the least power? Governance isn’t a brake. It’s how a society decides what innovation is for”he added.
Chido Dzinotyiwei, Co-founder and CEO of Vambo AI, highlighted the need to account for language differences in AI development.
“Language is where the gap is easiest to see,” said Chido.
“If a model can’t follow how people actually speak, it isn’t serving them, however advanced it is. That has to be a design decision from the start,” added Chido.
Charlette N’Guessan, Lead Data Solutions, AI Ecosystem and Government Partnerships at Amini and Founder , Afrokwary, raised questions about data ownership and the distribution of benefits from AI.
“Data is infrastructure, and the continent is mostly a source of it,” said Charlette.
“Who collects it, who owns it, and who benefits will decide whether Africa takes part in this economy or just supplies it,” added Charlette.
Obinna Okerekeocha, Founder Naija AI Film Festival, said transparency would be important in building public trust in AI systems.
“Millions of Africans already depend on digital systems that decide whether they can save, borrow, or trade,” said Obinna.
“Trust comes from explaining things honestly. AI will earn it or lose it the same way,” added Obinna.
The council will operate with six members, hold quarterly meetings and serve an initial two-year term.
It will not function as a regulator or implement AI policies.
The Samawati Collective said APiAC would operate independently of funders, governments and commercial entities, with its positions determined by members.