Current position
Across much of Africa, most countries do not yet have standalone, comprehensive artificial intelligence legislation.
Instead, AI-related issues are generally addressed through existing legal frameworks, emerging national strategies, and regional policy initiatives.
For example, the processing of personal data in AI systems may fall under national data protection laws such as the Protection of Personal Information Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which regulate the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information.
At the regional level, policy coordination has been promoted through initiatives such as the African Union Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the African Union Data Policy Framework developed by the African Union.
Several countries are also developing national AI strategies or digital economy policies to guide responsible AI development.
As a result, AI governance across Africa currently relies primarily on existing legal frameworks, data protection regimes, and policy initiatives rather than comprehensive AI-specific legislation.