Media Rights Agenda (MRA) tuesday called for the development and adoption of a comprehensive Pan-African framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI) grounded in human rights, democratic accountability, inclusion, and African digital sovereignty, arguing that no single African country has sufficient leverage and resources to address the critical challenges alone.

In a statement issued in Lagos to mark the 2026 Africa Day, MRA observed that the rapid global expansion of AI technologies presents Africa with both unprecedented opportunities and serious risks, warning that unless African countries work collectively to shape the governance, development and deployment of AI systems, the continent risks becoming merely a consumer of technologies designed elsewhere, without adequate regard for African realities, cultures, languages, or developmental priorities.

MRA’s Programme Officer, Ms Ayomide Eweje, pointed out that Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 and reaffirms the vision of a united, free, and prosperous Africa, adding that the vision now extends to the digital domain.

While noting that AI is already transforming diverse sectors, including journalism, governance, education, elections, business, security, public communication, healthcare, and access to information across the world.