Cameroon adopts its first national AI strategy 🤖

On July 7–8, 2025, Cameroon hosted the second edition of its National Consultations on Artificial Intelligence (CONIA) at the Yaoundé Conference Center. The event marked a significant milestone: the official adoption of the country’s first-ever national AI strategy—a blueprint to guide the ethical and inclusive development of AI technologies across sectors.

A momentum that started in 2024 🔄

This milestone didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the result of a process set in motion in 2024, when the inaugural edition of CONIA kickstarted a multi-sector conversation around AI. From the outset, Cameroonian authorities have made it clear: artificial intelligence is no longer some abstract or futuristic concept—it’s a present-day reality with transformative potential.

The government sees AI as a lever for modernization. With its capabilities in data analysis, forecasting, and optimization, AI could boost key sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and public safety.

Minette Libom Li Likeng, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, emphasized that the new strategy addresses two critical goals: integrating AI into public policy and ensuring that all national stakeholders can adopt and manage these technologies responsibly.

Great promise—real risks ⚠️

Of course, AI comes with its share of challenges. At CONIA 2, participants raised concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and job displacement. That’s why many called for a strong legal and ethical framework to guide deployment.

Speakers also stressed that AI is becoming a matter of digital sovereignty. In today’s world, the ability to control one’s own data and infrastructure is a marker of national power.

To avoid being left behind in the global AI race, Cameroon has chosen to formalize its ambitions. The national strategy identifies priority sectors, outlines regulatory mechanisms, and defines potential public-private partnerships. But this isn’t just a theoretical framework—it’s a practical tool to coordinate initiatives, attract investment, and ensure the success of AI-related projects.

CONIA 2 wasn’t just another tech event on the calendar. It represents a turning point in Cameroon’s digital journey. Through this collective effort, the country is signaling its intent to embrace AI as a long-term driver of inclusive and sustainable transformation.

👉🏾 Do you believe AI should be a top priority for Cameroon’s development? Let us know what you think in the comments! 😊