Gabon is taking a new step in its ambition to structure its development around emerging technologies. The Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation is organizing consultations from September 28 to 30 in Libreville to prepare the future national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For three days, representatives from government, the private sector, academia and civil society will gather to assess Gabon’s AI ecosystem and identify national priorities.

Discussions will focus in particular on available skills, technological infrastructure, access to data, practical AI applications, as well as issues related to governance, security and the protection of rights.

Work Already Underway

For Libreville, this initiative does not represent a starting point. The country has already launched several initiatives aimed at laying the foundations for a national artificial intelligence framework.

In 2024, Gabon notably conducted an assessment of its AI readiness using UNESCO’s methodology. The recommendations resulting from this process helped guide discussions on the development of a national strategy. A national technical committee dedicated to artificial intelligence was also established.

In June 2025, a workshop organized with UNESCO brought together around sixty representatives from public authorities, regulators, companies, startups, researchers and civil society. Discussions focused in particular on the ethical governance of AI and helped establish a timetable for preparing the national strategy.

The consultations organized this week with UNDP support therefore represent a new step: the aim now is to transform the accumulated assessments and recommendations into guidelines capable of shaping Gabon’s future artificial intelligence policy.

Gabon Faces Africa’s AI Acceleration

This initiative comes amid an acceleration of national AI policies across the African continent. Several countries, including Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Nigeria, already have a national strategy, according to the OECD. Other countries are still developing their own frameworks.

This momentum is part of the African Union’s continental strategy adopted in 2024, which notably aims to strengthen skills, infrastructure, data, innovation and artificial intelligence governance in Africa.

For Gabon, the challenge now is to identify the areas in which AI could address concrete national needs and determine the conditions necessary for its development.

The Libreville consultations should therefore help clarify the country’s priorities before the drafting, review and finalization of its future national artificial intelligence strategy.