African Union Commission Convenes African Ambassadors in Geneva

The African Union Commission's Department of Infrastructure and Energy, together with the African Union Mission in Geneva, convened a High-Level Consultation with the African Diplomatic Corps, bringing together African Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives accredited to the United Nations to align the continent's engagement in international negotiations on digital and artificial intelligence policy and governance.

The Department, led by H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, was represented by Ms Souhila Amazouz, Principal AI and Digital Policy Coordinator, alongside H.E. Dr Girma Amente Nono, African Union Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in Geneva, represented by Mr Georges-Remi Namekong, Senior Economist.

The consultation addressed the coordination of Africa's voice in the multilateral and plurilateral settings now shaping the rules, standards and governance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, with direct impact on the global economy, international relations and the conduct of diplomacy, transforming how states interact, negotiate and project power.

The objective was to reinforce collaboration between the AU Commission and the African diplomatic community in Geneva to collectively prepare Africa's international engagements on digital and AI, to ensure alignment and preserve the interests and sovereignty of African countries in today's interconnected and interdependent digital environment.

The African Union has adopted and established mechanisms that have enabled the continent to advance its Digital Transformation Agenda. These blueprints, namely the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, the AU Data Policy Framework, the Africa Digital Compact and the AU's Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, reflect a common vision and a commitment of African countries to responsibly and ethically harness the potential of digital and emerging technologies to accelerate the attainment of AU Agenda 2063 development aspirations, and serve as the basis for developing common positions and guiding Africa's participation in international digital cooperation.

The session emphasised the need to integrate AI and digital as topics of foreign policy. It produced a shared understanding of Africa's priorities on digital and artificial intelligence and their increasing impact on global diplomacy; actionable recommendations for more structured preparations and consolidation of African common positions in multilateral and plurilateral negotiations, including the G20; and agreed follow-up actions on creating rapprochement between diplomatic and technical communities and building the capacity of African diplomats and negotiators, including the proposed establishment of a network of African tech diplomats.

"African countries have the potential to shape standards and rules governing AI and digital when they arrive with one position. This consultation is about laying the foundations for that: common preparations, consolidated efforts and structured engagements both at technical and diplomatic levels to promote unified Africa's voice in global discussions and negotiations," - Ms Amazouz.

The consultation forms part of the Department's engagements in Geneva during a week spanning the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the AI for Good Global Summit and the WSIS Forum 2026, and its outcomes will inform the preparation of Africa's engagements across the multilateral digital agenda.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Department of Infrastructure and Energy.

The Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission promotes, coordinates and implements policies to develop world-class, integrated infrastructure, digital, transport and energy systems across Africa, in the implementation of Agenda 2063. Its programmes span continental power systems, digital networks and the integration of African air transport.

For Media Inquiries, Contact:

1. Ms. Bezayit Eyoel | Information Analyst | Department of Infrastructure and Energy | African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]

2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: [email protected]
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