At the WSIS Forum 2026, African experts and industry leaders emphasized the need for the continent to transition from digital inclusion to digital sovereignty. They advocated for increased investments in industrial capabilities, the development of local artificial intelligence (AI), and the creation of value from Africa’s own resources and data, rather than dependency on foreign technologies.
The session titled “From Digital Inclusion to Digital Sovereignty: Building Capacity, Infrastructure and Governance for Sustainable Digital Transformation” examined how Africa can become not only a consumer of AI and Industry 4.0 technologies but also a producer of digital value. Moderated by Adelina Zekiri from the University of the Côte d’Azur, the panel featured Professors Samah Mbane, Jean Bosco Biringolo, and Adel Ben Youssef, all founding members of the African Smart Manufacturing Alliance (ASMA).
Industrialization as the Cornerstone of Development
In his opening remarks, Professor Samah Mbane warned that Africa could face regression if it fails to advance industrialization alongside digital transformation.
Citing his experience in implementing Industry 4.0 solutions in the manufacturing sector, Mbane stressed that industrial development is crucial for economically vibrant nations.
He noted, “There is no developed country that is not industrialized,” highlighting that industrialization fosters the skills, technology, and productive capacity necessary for sustainable growth.
Mbane introduced ASMA as a collaborative platform designed to connect government, industry, academia, and technical experts in practical projects across smart manufacturing, health, mining, automotive production, agriculture, and digital technologies.
He also pointed out significant imbalances within the continent’s global value chains. Despite possessing approximately 68% of the world’s critical minerals, Africa processes less than 1% of the value added from these resources. Similar patterns are evident in healthcare, where the continent exports raw materials while importing the majority of its finished pharmaceutical products.
According to Mbane, AI should support industrialization rather than replace it entirely.
He expressed concern that discussions about AI sometimes overshadow more pressing challenges faced by the continent. “Africa first needs the ability to manufacture and transform locally,” he remarked.
Tailoring AI to African Realities
Throughout the discussion, a central theme emerged regarding the importance of developing AI solutions that reflect the unique context of Africa, rather than relying solely on products imported from abroad.
Giovanni Bosco Biringolo, a professor of mechatronics and a founder of ASMA, argued that foreign models will not adequately address Africa’s development challenges, as they are often designed for different industrial landscapes.
He emphasized, “What we need is not to import models; we need to build our own models in the African context.”
Biringolo posited that prioritizing human capital is vital for the continent. African nations should focus on cultivating engineers, technologists, manufacturers, and researchers capable of creating AI systems embedded in local industries and value chains.
He illustrated this point through a project in agriculture that employs digital representations of industrial equipment to enhance farmers’ understanding of production processes and develop new business opportunities. Through these initiatives, his organization has helped over 2,000 individuals transition into industrial roles.
Opportunities from Africa’s Rich Resources
Professor Adel Ben Youssef urged participants to recognize that Africa is not a monolithic market, consisting instead of 54 nations with varied economic landscapes.
He acknowledged some shared competitive advantages, including Africa’s rapid population growth, abundant renewable energy resources, and what he referred to as a “late-mover advantage,” enabling countries to advance beyond outdated industrial models and foster more sustainable digital infrastructure.
Ben Youssef argued that Africa is poised to become a global leader in digital infrastructure powered by renewable energy, moving away from reliance on international data centers.
He asserted that the primary obstacle is not energy availability, but rather political stability.
Additionally, Ben Youssef cautioned that Africa’s creative industries are increasingly threatened as cultural content, art, and local knowledge are utilized without consent or compensation in AI training models.
“Most of Africa’s creative content is being scraped to train AI models,” he lamented, framing this issue as both an economic and cultural sovereignty challenge.
Navigating Data Governance
As audience questions shifted toward data governance, participants inquired whether Africa should adopt GDPR-style regulations to safeguard its burgeoning digital economy.
Panelists advised caution in this regard.
Ben Youssef noted that merely replicating the European General Data Protection Regulation would overlook Africa’s distinct economic circumstances, particularly the significance of the informal sector.
Instead, he advocated for flexible, sector-specific governance frameworks that are adapted to local realities, incorporating fair mechanisms for sharing the economic value generated from Africa’s data.
Mr. Mbane elaborated, stressing that Africa’s immediate focus should be on creating local value instead of emulating regulatory structures from other regions.
“Our fight today is not about GDPR,” he asserted. “Our fight is to create value locally, rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished products.”
Mr. Biringolo echoed this sentiment, suggesting that effective regulation is only feasible when countries possess the human capital and industrial capacities necessary for protection.
Fostering Digital Sovereignty through Collaboration
The session concluded with a call for collaboration among governments, universities, businesses, and international organizations to expand ASMA’s network, which will include its inaugural conference in Dakar later this year.
While the discussion centered on Africa, speakers emphasized that digital sovereignty should not be equated with economic isolation or geopolitical rivalry.
They argued that empowering Africa to extract greater value from its natural resources, industries, and knowledge bases would ultimately enhance global prosperity.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was that AI alone cannot catalyze transformation in Africa; such change necessitates substantial investments in manufacturing, skills, infrastructure, and regional innovation. For the panelists, the journey toward digital sovereignty begins not with algorithm ownership, but with fortifying the industrial and human infrastructure that enables countries to define their digital futures.
