The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Sid Ali Zerrouki, participated in the inaugural meeting for the installation of the Africa Council for Artificial Intelligence, part of the “Smart Africa” alliance, via video conference. This participation follows his appointment as a member of this high-level continental council, which brings together ministers and experts from across the African continent.
The meeting provided a platform to present and discuss the roadmap for activating the Africa Council for Artificial Intelligence, as well as the mechanisms for implementing the African Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of these technologies at the continental level through a responsible, inclusive, and sovereign approach that serves the interests of African populations. The council’s annual meeting schedule was also addressed, key milestones were identified, and the establishment of specialized technical working groups was discussed.
During the session, Zerrouki reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to contributing effectively to the formulation of policies and strategic and regulatory frameworks for AI governance and digital infrastructure. He also emphasized strengthening cooperation with African nations in the fields of innovation, capacity building, and human resource development.
The appointment was made from a pool of 226 prominent figures, including 54 ministers. The council is composed of only 15 members: five ministers, six field experts, and four co-chairs (two ministers and two experts) who will be elected on March 1st on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The council members were selected by a tripartite committee comprising the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the African Union, and the Smart Africa alliance.
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