Kigali, Rwanda, 3 April 2025 – H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, participated in a High-Level Panel on “Africa and the AI Opportunity” at the Global AI Summit on Africa held in Kigali.
During the panel, the Secretary-General reflected on the critical role of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, with particular reference to the Annex on Emerging Technologies, in shaping a framework for the responsible and inclusive adoption of Artificial Intelligence across the continent.
H.E. Mene emphasised that AI holds transformative potential for trade in Africa — from streamlining digital payment systems to enhancing market intelligence and optimising cross-border data flows. He further underscored the imperative for targeted investment in digital public infrastructure and the need for greater regulatory harmonisation to fully harness the benefits of AI.
“Building Africa’s single digital market is not just a goal. It is a necessity,” he stated, reiterating the AfCFTA’s commitment to advancing the digital economy under its mandate.
