In a landmark moment for Africa’s digital transformation, over 40 nations, including Malawi, came together at the Global AI Summit for Africa (GAISA) in Kigali to adopt the historic Kigali Declaration on Artificial Intelligence — a unified continental roadmap to harness AI for inclusive growth, innovation, and sustainable development.
This declaration seeks to harness the transformative potential of AI to drive economic growth, enhance industrial competitiveness and promote societal advancement across Africa.
Malawi played a key role in this historic process, actively contributing to both the drafting and discussions within the SMART Africa Steering Committee. The country’s delegation strategically ensured that the resolution reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of African nations, particularly those from smaller economies.
The adopted declaration outlines three primary goals which include to leverage the potential of AI to drive innovation and competitiveness, thereby accelerating the development of African economies, industries, and societies, to position Africa as a global leader in the ethical, trustworthy, and inclusive adoption of AI technologies and to promote sustainable and responsible AI governance, covering the design, development, deployment and use of AI systems.
Speaking after the resolution was passed, Secretary for Information and Digitalisation, Baldwin Chiyamwaka, emphasised the importance of inclusive representation in shaping Africa’s technological future.
“This is not just a win for Rwanda or Malawi—it’s a win for the entire continent. We are laying the foundation for a digital Africa that is just, innovative, and globally competitive,” Chiyamwaka stated.
The summit brought together representatives from African countries, global tech leaders, policymakers, and civil society stakeholders. Discussions focused on creating robust frameworks that prioritize both innovation and responsibility, ensuring that Africa’s AI journey is centered on people and forward-looking.
The Kigali Declaration on AI is now expected to guide national policies, regional collaborations, and investment priorities in the coming years, as Africa aims to solidify its position on the global tech map.
As Africa takes bold steps toward a digitally empowered future, the Kigali Declaration stands as a testament to the continent’s commitment to shaping its own technological destiny. With Malawi actively contributing to the vision, the summit marks not just a policy milestone, but the beginning of a new era where African voices lead the global conversation on ethical and inclusive
