On Monday, July 7, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, officially launched Cameroon’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (SNIA) during the 2nd edition of the National Consultations on AI.
Driven by a vision for 2040, this strategy aims to position the country as a continental hub in artificial intelligence, by focusing on sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable solutions rooted in African cultural realities.
The strategic document is based on seven interdependent pillars:
Governance and Digital Sovereignty It includes the creation of a Cameroonian AI authority, a Presidential Council for AI, and the drafting of a framework law incorporating ethical issues and mechanisms for ministerial coordination.
Data and Digital Infrastructure It calls for the establishment of a governmental Data Lake, massive digitization of public services, interoperability standards, and a targeted Open Data policy.
Multilingual and Inclusive AI The plan involves developing a local language model — “GPT Cameroon” — and promoting national languages through linguistic research and the collection of voice data.
Sovereign Technological Infrastructure This includes the installation of fifteen regional Edge Computing nodes powered by solar microgrids to enhance energy resilience.
Training, Research, and Human Capital The goal is to create five AI centers of excellence, train 4,000 people per year, encourage the return of talent from the diaspora, and provide greater support for local research.
Innovation and Sectoral Use Cases The strategy aims to boost startups through accelerators and promote the adoption of AI in key sectors such as health, agriculture, justice, and education.
Cooperation and Regional Influence It plans to establish an AI network for Central Africa, strengthen international partnerships, and promote the export of “Made in Cameroon” digital solutions.
With this roadmap, the Cameroonian government intends to make artificial intelligence a key lever for its digital transformation.
