Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita said Africa is called upon to play an active role in AI issues, Maghreb Arabe Press (MAP) reported.
During a press conference following the ministerial meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU PSC) held by videoconference, Bourita stressed that “the continent must be an active and involved player in current global issues, including AI, and not remain a subject of debate and agendas.”
He recalled that the meeting is part of Morocco’s Chairship of the AU PSC for the month of March and the activities and meetings programmed for this purpose, adding that it was the first AU meeting devoted to AI at ministerial level.
Eight of the 15 PSC members took part in the meeting, he said, adding that this meeting is in line with the Enlightened Vision of King Mohammed VI with regard to Africa’s positioning in AI, in order to meet the challenges posed by this technology and take advantage of its opportunities and potential, underlining the need for the continent to master this new tool in order to strengthen its security and stability.
Bourita also stressed that Africa, faced with numerous classic challenges such as armed conflicts and separatist groups, is now also facing new challenges linked to AI, explaining that 40% of terrorist groups use these technologies in their plots, while 47 countries around the world have been targeted by interventions using AI in their electoral processes.
In this regard, he pointed out that the dissemination of faked videos has increased by 900% over the last five years, while fake news has grown by over 300% in the last three years, testifying to the scale of this technology’s impact on security and stability in Africa.
On the other hand, the minister maintained, AI offers enormous opportunities, particularly in the field of agricultural production, which could increase by 10-20% thanks to this technology, at a time when the continent is also facing food security challenges.
The minister also highlighted the importance of Africa’s active commitment to promoting AI, recalling Morocco’s role in this field, particularly through the launch of the Friends of AI for Sustainable Development group within the framework of the United Nations.
He also underlined the need to strengthen training and invest in human capital specialized in these technologies, noting that only 1% of AI experts and engineers are from Africa, and that nearly 70,000 of them have emigrated abroad.
He stressed the need to develop infrastructures in Africa to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the sector, and to put in place an appropriate legal framework, noting that Morocco, under the leadership of the King, is making its digital expertise available to its African brothers, as part of the South-South cooperation advocated by the Kingdom.
