AI Index 2025 : Cameroon ranked among countries with moderate AI investment potential according to AFD 🚀

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On April 24, 2025, the French Development Agency (AFD) published the 2025 edition of the Artificial Intelligence Investment Potential Index (AIIPI). Cameroon is classified at Stage 2 on a four-level scale, alongside countries like Togo and Angola.

Promising but Fragile Foundations ⚡

According to the report, Cameroon has a number of promising foundations but still needs to overcome several challenges to fully capitalize on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The AIIPI 2025 emphasizes the need for targeted investments in digital infrastructure and human capital.

The index is based on six key pillars, including economic stability, quality of governance, and the state of digital infrastructure. Each country is assessed on a scale from 0 to 100 points, allowing for precise comparison across the 193 nations studied.

Contrasting Momentum in Sub-Saharan Africa 🌍

Countries such as South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Ghana, and Senegal are leading in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their success is built on strong regulatory frameworks and dynamic tech ecosystems.

In contrast, Cameroon still lacks an official strategic document dedicated to artificial intelligence. This absence hinders its ability to build a sustainable ecosystem.

Nonetheless, Cameroonian authorities have expressed their ambition to use AI to transform various sectors. Priority areas include agriculture, healthcare, education, and natural resource management. Improving access to high-speed internet is also among the urgent goals. However, turning these ambitions into reality remains a challenge. Private sector players in the telecom industry are calling for deeper liberalization to promote access to fiber and lower costs for users.

A Progressing African Environment 📈

At the continental level, Africa remains below the global average, with an overall score of 38.70 points. Most African countries fall under Stage 2, while a few, such as South Africa and Morocco, reach Stage 3.

The AIIPI 2025 identifies ten African countries with high AI investment potential. Their success is driven by improved infrastructure, available talent, and a more favorable regulatory environment.

The report also highlights major regional disparities. North America leads with an average score of 86 points, followed by Europe and Central Asia. These regions benefit from advanced digital infrastructure, economic stability, and thriving innovation ecosystems.

Conversely, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America have lower scores. This situation is explained by political instability, weak infrastructure, and underdeveloped regulatory frameworks. Targeted public policies are deemed essential to close these gaps.

Do you think Cameroon can catch up quickly in the AI space? Tell us in the comments 😊