Once viewed as a futuristic concept, the weaponization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now become a defining feature of digital warfare. As global powers deploy AI-driven tools in cyber operations, Africa faces mounting challenges due to a widening digital divide, especially in the fast-evolving AI space.
While the continent continues to advocate for reparative justice and equitable global systems, it remains vulnerable to emerging digital threats. Scholars and experts are now calling for urgent and coordinated African action to secure digital sovereignty and the ability to control as well as protect the continent’s digital infrastructure, data, and technological future.
During the adoption of the Cotonou Declaration, which called for a unified African voice in building an inclusive digital future, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Emerging Technologies, Innovation, and Digital Transformation Chief Mactar Seck emphasized the need for equity and inclusion, urging Africa to move beyond being a passive consumer to becoming an influential digital producer.
This call was echoed at the Third International Cyber security and Digital Transformation Conference, where ICT and cyber security experts warned that AI is not only a tool for innovation but also for attack. They urged collaborative strategies across governments, academia, and private sectors to strengthen the continent’s capacity in both defensive and offensive cyber security measures.
Fulbright University Computer Science Associate Professor Birhanu Eshete (PhD) revealed that approximately 85% of recent cyber incidents involve some form of AI.
“AI is accelerating the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber attack ranging from data breaches and deepfakes to autonomous malware and advanced social engineering,” he said.
Africa, he warned, is grappling with these threats while still catching up technologically.
“Fixing the continent’s digital sovereignty amid an AI revolution is like repairing a plane mid-flight,” he noted.
Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Agency (INSA) Expert Hanibal Lemma stressed that digital transformation cannot succeed through unilateral efforts.
“AI, robotics, and internet-based technologies ,once considered emerging,are now mainstream. Africa missed the early wave, but it must now address the gap through collective action,” he stated.
Ethiopia, under its national digital strategy, promotes collaboration among governments, private sectors, and innovators to build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem, he added.
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Despite these efforts, Africa remains largely dependent on foreign digital infrastructure and imported devices, many of which pose potential cyber security risks. But reliance on imports does not necessarily translate to vulnerability, said Emmanuel Manasseh, Regional Representative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for Africa.
“Africa is not the only region importing devices. Cyber security is not just about hardware .It is about the entire ecosystem. Security must be built into infrastructure, services, and devices,” he explained.
Manasseh underscored the importance of developing homegrown cyber security solutions, calling for African-led innovation, standardization, and operational security frameworks.
“No country has it all. But through collaboration between governments, academia, private sectors and global partners, we can pool resources, drive expertise, and ensure secure connectivity for all,” he said.
As the continent accelerates its digital transformation, experts agree that digital sovereignty is not just about protection. It is about empowerment, innovation, and securing Africa’s rightful place in the global digital order.