Africa’s four biggest tech economies have each drafted artificial intelligence strategies admitting they depend too heavily on Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta for infrastructure and want more control over the terms.
Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya have released draft AI policies since January 2025 that identify dependence on U.S. tech companies as a threat to security and survival. South Africa reached the same conclusion in a draft it published and withdrew in April this year after the AI tools used to help write it generated fake citations.
Most African nations rely on U.S. companies for computing power, funding, and expertise, AI and policy experts who advise these governments told Rest of World. They are now pushing for data sovereignty, local talent, and better terms from foreign providers, the experts said.
“Africa’s push for digital sovereignty cannot mean total independence from global AI supply chains,” Rachel Adams, founder of the Global Center on AI Governance, told Rest of World. “But it can mean stronger control over sensitive data, better public procurement rules, investment in local infrastructure and skills, African language data sets, and clearer accountability for foreign AI providers.”
