# Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy

- **Record type**: Policy instrument
- **Jurisdiction**: African Union
- **Instrument type**: National strategy
- **Status**: Adopted
- **Binding**: No — guidance, strategy or standard
- **Issuing body**: African Union Commission (endorsed by the AU Executive Council)
- **Adopted**: 2024-07-18

## In brief

Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy is a non-binding national strategy of the African Union, issued by the African Union Commission (endorsed by the AU Executive Council). It was adopted on 18 July 2024. Scope is as set out in the official text linked below. A continental framework that guides AU member states on harnessing AI for development while managing risks.

## Summary

A continental framework that guides AU member states on harnessing AI for development while managing risks. It is organised around five focus areas: capturing AI benefits, building capabilities, minimising risks, stimulating investment, and fostering cooperation. It is non-binding and intended to inform national strategies and regional harmonisation.

## Scope

Scope is as set out in the official text linked below. Issued by African Union Commission (endorsed by the AU Executive Council). Oversight: AU Commission coordinates; member states implement nationally. Stated purpose: Africa-centric, development-focused AI adoption aligned with Agenda 2063.

## Key dates

2024-06-13: Adopted by African ICT and Communications Ministers (virtual session, 11-13 June 2024); 2024-08-09: Strategy document published on AU website (English PDF)

## Notes on dates

Only the announcement or adoption date is recorded from the source; in-force and application dates are to be confirmed by a reviewer.

## Provenance

- **Permanent id**: AIPT-POL-0004 (https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0004; never changes or gets reused)
- **Record page**: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/african-union-continental-artificial-intelligence-strategy
- **Official source**: https://au.int/en/documents/20240809/continental-artificial-intelligence-strategy
- **Source document**: Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy
- **Published by**: African Union
- **Review status**: verified
- **Confidence**: high
- **Facts last confirmed**: 2026-09-26
- **Confirmed by**: Bhaskar Bhatt (see https://aipolicytracker.org/reviewers)
- **Retrieved**: 2026-10-27
- **Licence**: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- **Cite as**: AIPolicyTracker (2026). "Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy" [AIPT-POL-0004, record version 1, verified 26 September 2026 by Bhaskar Bhatt]. https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0004 (accessed 27 October 2026).

> This record is a structured summary with a link to the official text. It is not legal advice. Open the official source before relying on any date or duty. How current each record type must be is published at https://aipolicytracker.org/verification; what a record must carry at all is published at https://aipolicytracker.org/coverage.