Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Mr. Nasser Bourita chairs today by videoconference, a ministerial meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU-PSC) on “Artificial intelligence and its impact on peace, security and governance in Africa”.
This meeting, to be held under the Moroccan Presidency of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in March 2025, will be attended by foreign ministers from PSC member countries, as well as experts and representatives of specialized institutions, to examine the opportunities and challenges linked to artificial intelligence and its impact on peace, security and governance in Africa.
This meeting, the first of its kind at ministerial level, is a continuation, at African level, of the Kingdom’s international efforts to promote the rational and responsible use of artificial intelligence for peace, security and development.
These efforts were crowned by the adoption, in 2024, of the United Nations General Assembly resolution N°A/78/L.49 on this theme, at the joint initiative of Morocco and the United States.
Positioning itself as a major player in the field of artificial intelligence, Morocco moved up 11 places in 2024 in the Global Digitalization Index world ranking, and ambitions to be among the African leaders in this field by 2030.
Morocco has implemented a national strategy for artificial intelligence to integrate AI into various economic and social sectors. This strategy is part of the “Maroc Digital 2025” plan, which seeks to position the country as a technology hub in Africa.
In this context, Morocco organized the first High-Level Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Africa in Rabat, from June 3 to 5, 2024, under the theme: “Artificial Intelligence as a Lever for Development in Africa.” Initiated in partnership with UNESCO, this forum brought together representatives from more than 30 countries, including some fifteen African countries, illustrating Morocco’s commitment to promoting innovative solutions for the continent’s development.
Morocco has launched several flagship projects in the field of AI, particularly within the framework of smart cities. For example, initiatives are underway to use AI in urban resource management and smart mobility.
Initiatives such as “Startup Maroc” and various government programs support innovative start-ups. Technology hubs, such as Casablanca Technopark and Rabat Technopolis, provide a favorable environment for the development of AI projects. Through initiatives such as the “AI Movement” international artificial intelligence center based at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco is playing a pioneering role in AI research and development at the continental level. This center, the first of its kind in Africa, is pioneering research and sharing Moroccan experiences with sister countries on the continent.
Morocco’s breakthroughs in the field of AI provides a high profile of the Kingdom on the African continent, predisposing it to become an AI and digital hub in the region.
