Nathan-Ross Adams, Founder and MD, ITLawCo. (Image: Supplied)

As the sun rises over bustling cities and remote villages across Africa, the global race in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how nations view security, sovereignty, and economic power. 

AI is no longer a distant technological ambition—it’s here, already transforming security practices worldwide. 

For Africa, however, the risks of falling behind are particularly severe. Remaining passive in this AI-driven world could mean ceding ground to external powers, risking both sovereignty and security.

Yet, African nations have a unique opportunity. By adapting global lessons to the continent’s own values, realities, and priorities, Africa can leverage AI in ways that reinforce, rather than undermine, its autonomy. 

At this moment, African leaders must consider AI as a matter of national security—a means to protect borders, build resilience, and secure Africa’s future in an increasingly tech-driven world.

The urgency of AI for Africa’s security landscape

While AI’s national security applications are evolving in powerful ways, Africa’s challenges differ markedly from those in the United States, China, and Europe. Africa faces a unique security landscape: its threats range from cross-border terrorism and insurgency to cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic manipulation. 

Yet, AI offers a variety of solutions to address these issues, such as predictive policing for crime prevention; cyber threat detection and response; autonomous drones for border surveillance; AI-based disaster response; and disinformation detection and countermeasures. However, these solutions will only serve the continent if its leaders proactively adopt, adapt, and control the technology.

James Cameron, the filmmaker-turned-tech-advocate, recently spoke on AI’s ethical challenges at the SCSP AI+Robotics Summit in Washington, DC. 

His perspective offers a valuable lesson for Africa: leaving AI development unchecked could risk AI being used against African interests, while responsibly harnessing AI could allow Africa to shape its own path forward.

“Imagine facing an adversary with weaponised AI, unburdened by ethical guardrails”, Cameron warned. 

The urgency here is apparent—AI is not an option to defer but a crucial tool that African leaders must leverage to stay resilient in a volatile global landscape.

Practical gains: cyber security, crime prevention, and military strategy

AI’s potential for African national security applications is diverse and uniquely relevant to the continent’s needs.

Cyber security

African nations face escalating cyber threats, from ransomware attacks to state-sponsored espionage. AI-enhanced cyber security systems enable faster threat detection and real-time response capabilities, offering much-needed protection to African nations that are increasingly vulnerable online. 

Rwanda, for example, has invested in digital security infrastructure, proposing to use AI-driven monitoring tools to shield financial institutions and government systems from cyber-attacks.

Crime prevention

In rapidly urbanising areas, crime prevention and public safety are top priorities. AI-driven surveillance systems are already being tested in Johannesburg and Nairobi, where they map crime hotspots and help allocate resources effectively. 

While predictive policing raises valid concerns around bias and privacy, it can be applied thoughtfully, using strict guidelines to build accountability and community trust.

Military and peacekeeping

With its focus on autonomous aerial systems, Africa has the potential to use AI for border security, anti-poaching missions, and counter-terrorism operations. 

AI-powered drones, which allow for border patrols and emergency response, could strengthen security in areas otherwise challenging for traditional forces to monitor. 

For regions vulnerable to conflict, AI could provide situational awareness, reduce collateral damage, and even facilitate peacekeeping operations that prioritise civilian safety.

Ethical challenges and the need for African regulations

The global push toward autonomous weapons and surveillance AI raises profound ethical issues, many of which carry unique weight in Africa. As Cameron questioned, “Should an AI be given ‘kill authority’ on the battlefield?” 

For African nations, where peacekeeping and human rights are central to regional security, this question is more than hypothetical—it’s an ethical and practical challenge. While AI can enhance precision in military engagements, the risks of misuse are high, especially in politically unstable regions.

Implementing AI without robust ethical oversight could endanger civil liberties, deepen distrust, and lead to abuses of power. African countries must adopt AI thoughtfully, ensuring strict guidelines to protect citizens while addressing security needs. 

A collective framework, perhaps through the African Union, could provide a standardised code of conduct for AI applications in security, enabling nations to work together while respecting local values and human rights.

Fighting disinformation: the double-edged sword of AI in information warfare

The dangers of disinformation and “digital colonialism”—the manipulation of narratives by outside actors—are a growing threat to African nations. AI-boosted disinformation campaigns can destabilise societies, especially around election times, by spreading false narratives and undermining trust in public institutions. 

Here, AI offers both a threat and a solution.

African governments can use AI to detect and counter misinformation, as Nigeria has done in recent elections, to identify fake accounts and foreign interference. 

However, the continent-wide application of these tools requires further investment and clear policies. By building AI-driven systems that identify misinformation, African leaders can protect their societies from external influence and maintain democratic integrity.

Learning from global examples: adaptation, not imitation

International examples provide lessons for African nations, but they are not blueprints. While the EU and China are leading in AI-driven security advancements, their approaches are not always suited to Africa’s needs. 

The EU has set global standards for ethics and transparency, while China’s centralised approach offers insights on the importance of AI sovereignty.

For Africa, these examples underscore the importance of adapting rather than mimicking. Rather than adopting wholesale models, African nations can use these insights to build frameworks that respect local cultures, address real security concerns, and prioritise autonomy. 

By creating an African approach to AI, the continent can avoid over-dependence on foreign models and define a future aligned with its values.

The AI arms race: securing Africa’s autonomy in a tech-driven world

While the world’s superpowers compete in an AI arms race, Africa risks being left on the sidelines. This modern arms race isn’t about nuclear arsenals; it’s about the control and dominance of technology. 

Countries that excel in AI will control both economic and military power, reshaping global influence. Relying solely on external technology would compromise Africa’s independence, exposing it to political and economic vulnerabilities.

China’s deepening digital investments in Africa reveal both opportunity and risk. While partnerships with tech giants can provide valuable infrastructure, they also create dependencies that could erode African sovereignty. 

African nations must take steps to secure their own AI capabilities, investing in local talent and establishing partnerships that emphasise technology transfer, not dependency. By cultivating home-grown AI, Africa can align technology with its own security priorities and avoid becoming dependent on external systems.

Building capacity: education, talent, and interdisciplinary fields

To effectively harness AI, Africa must prioritise capacity-building, starting with education. Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have already established AI research centres, but significantly more is needed to cultivate the next generation of AI experts. 

Capacity development must extend beyond narrow technical fields to encompass areas such as AI-informed law, public policy, economics, philosophy, politics, and psychology. Government-backed scholarships, grants, and partnerships with African universities can ensure that AI talent is both developed and retained on the continent.

Alongside academic efforts, African leaders can support local AI start-ups and innovators by fostering an ecosystem where they can thrive. Government incentives for AI-focused tech hubs and incubators can drive innovation while ensuring solutions meet local needs. This investment goes beyond security; it’s about Africa’s future in a global economy where AI will shape prosperity and resilience.

The cost of inaction

The risks of delaying AI adoption are stark. African nations that overlook AI’s role in security risk becoming targets of cyber threats, economic manipulation, and even digital warfare. 

As Cameron cautioned, “AI will mirror humanity—good to the extent that we are good, and evil to the extent that we are evil”. 

For Africa, the danger lies in allowing external powers to define this mirror. Failing to act now could mean seeing Africa’s future shaped by those who may not share its values.

A call to action for African leaders

AI is not a technology of the future; it’s here, and Africa must catch up before it’s too late. African leaders face a critical decision: they can shape a framework that puts Africa on equal footing in an AI-dominated world, or they can risk falling behind, surrendering control over the continent’s digital future. 

AI must become a national security priority, but this effort requires infrastructure, resources, talent, and ethical governance.

Now is the time for African leaders to discuss, strategise, and act. This discourse, grounded in African values and regional needs, can lead to AI solutions that safeguard Africa’s autonomy and ensure its success. 

In a future shaped by AI, African nations have the opportunity to lead, not follow. The time to act is now.