Terrorists across Africa are using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop propaganda videos and spread disinformation against government agencies. However, governments are turning the same technology against terrorists to predict and deter their activities.
As AI becomes an increasingly large part of terrorism and counterterrorism on the continent, the African Union (AU) has proposed a set of steps designed to guide the way nations employ AI across sectors of their societies.
“By leveraging AI technologies, governments and security agencies can enhance intelligence, improve surveillance, and disrupt propaganda efforts,” analyst Abraham Ename Minko wrote for the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) shortly after the AU adopted the measure in 2024.
The AU Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy calls for “a people-centric, development-oriented and inclusive approach” built around five focus areas:
- Harnessing AI’s benefits for African people
- Addressing the risks associated with the increasing use of AI
- Accelerating AU nations’ AI capabilities
- Fostering regional and international cooperation to develop those capabilities
- Stimulating public and private investment in AI
Absent from the list, notes analyst Brenda Mwale, is a call for employing AI specifically for counterterrorism.
“However, the growing adoption of AI in various sectors throughout the region suggests that there is potential for its application in counterterrorism efforts,” she wrote recently for GNET.
AI proponents say the systems can track terrorists, highlight suspicious financial activity and flag radicalization efforts on social media, among other things.
AI systems also can help security agencies predict potential terrorism targets and plan for future threats. AI systems can examine large amounts of digital data to catch the early signs of instability in regions and countries.
“AI tools are being used to map the interests and grievances of different conflict parties. Such tools can now assist peace mediators in choosing effective solutions,” AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told members of the AU’s Peace and Security Council earlier this year.
The AU AI strategy is nonbinding, which means African nations can choose to adopt the recommendations or ignore them completely, Mwale noted.
The lack of AI capacity in many countries also means the guidelines might be difficult to apply. The lack of specific guidelines for counterterrorism means countries might struggle to integrate AI into their counterterrorism strategy effectively, she added.
“While the AU Continental AI strategy holds promise for innovation and identifying priority areas for policy action on the continent, there is a need for detailed security-related provisions on how to address AI risk, including adequate safeguards on the use of AI,” Mwale wrote.
In that respect, those charged with implementing the AU’s AI strategy might want to look to Ghana and Kenya as models. Both countries have become leaders in developing AI-related policies that employ the technology across multiple disciplines, according to Fredrick Ogenga and Aaron Stanley.
As in other parts of the world, the proper use of AI in Africa, whether for counterterrorism or other purposes, is a key part of maintaining trust between citizens and their governments, Ogenga and Stanley wrote for the Wilson Center.
“The AU’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy marks a significant milestone for the continent and will be key to advancing national policies,” they wrote.