Côte d’Ivoire Unveils National AI and Data Governance Strategy: A Legal and Policy Perspective
Côte d’Ivoire has taken a decisive step in consolidating its place within Africa’s digital transformation discourse with the unveiling of its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Governance. Officially presented to Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on 13 March 2025, the strategy underscores the country’s ambition to harness emerging technologies as catalysts for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Mambé described the initiative as a milestone in Côte d’Ivoire’s digital revolution, emphasizing that AI represents one of the defining technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His remarks reflect both the government’s acknowledgment of AI’s transformative potential and its determination to establish the legal, ethical, and infrastructural foundation necessary for its deployment.
The Strategic Framework
The strategy is anchored on three fundamental pillars. The first focuses on investment in skills and infrastructure, with particular emphasis on the development of data centers and sovereign cloud systems to host and secure local data. The second underscores regional and social inclusion, seeking to ensure that every city and social group can participate in, and benefit from, the digital transformation process. The third centers on governance, aiming to establish a coherent legal and ethical framework for AI development that guarantees conditions for responsible and sustainable growth.
These pillars will be operationalized through a five-year action plan. Notably, the plan envisages the establishment of a National Committee for AI and Data Governance, an AI hub with incubation and training functions, and the introduction of a “Safe AI” label to certify compliance with ethical and legal standards.
Data Governance as a Complementary Priority
In an era where data has become the “new oil” of the digital economy, Côte d’Ivoire’s recognition of data governance as a complementary priority is particularly significant. The strategy advances a framework for responsible data use, emphasizing security, interoperability, and ethics. The construction of national data centers and enhancement of connectivity are intended not only to support efficient data management but also to safeguard critical digital resources.
The unveiling of this strategy also places Côte d’Ivoire within a broader continental effort to define Africa’s role in the governance of artificial intelligence. In recent years, countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria have introduced national frameworks to regulate AI adoption in ways that balance innovation with oversight. By investing in infrastructure, governance, and inclusivity, Côte d’Ivoire is proving that Africa’s AI journey will not be outsourced, it will be built locally, guided responsibly, and shared inclusively.
