Mozambique Presents Draft National AI Strategy at ITU Workshop in Kenya

Mozambique presented the outline of its draft national artificial intelligence strategy at a regional workshop hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Kenya, joining a growing list of African governments moving to formalise AI governance and development frameworks this year.

The presentation, delivered by Mozambican digital economy officials, laid out early priorities for the strategy, including expanding digital infrastructure access, building foundational AI skills within the public sector, and establishing governance guardrails for AI use in areas such as public administration and financial services. Officials described the current version as a working draft intended to gather regional input and technical guidance from the ITU and peer nations before finalisation.

Learning from regional peers

Mozambique's strategy development follows a wave of similar national AI strategy efforts across the continent in 2026, including formal launches in Zimbabwe and continued strategy work in Zambia, reflecting growing recognition among African governments that AI governance frameworks are becoming a baseline expectation for attracting investment and multilateral development support, not just a policy nicety. The ITU workshop format — bringing multiple African delegations together to share draft approaches — has become an increasingly common venue for this kind of early-stage policy coordination, allowing smaller economies like Mozambique to benefit from lessons learned by countries that moved earlier.

Mozambican officials acknowledged that the country faces more fundamental digital infrastructure gaps than some of its regional peers, with significant portions of the population still lacking reliable internet access — a constraint that shapes the draft strategy's emphasis on foundational connectivity and skills alongside more forward-looking AI governance provisions. The strategy is also expected to address AI's potential role in sectors central to Mozambique's economy, including agriculture and natural resource management, where officials see practical near-term applications distinct from more speculative AI use cases discussed in wealthier markets.

No firm timeline has been set for finalising and formally adopting the strategy, though officials indicated further consultation, including with private sector and civil society stakeholders, would follow the ITU workshop before a final version is brought before government for adoption.

Source: Mozambique National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies.

The policy significance extends beyond the announcement itself. A national strategy, a new authority or a regulatory initiative only becomes meaningful when responsibilities are clear, implementation is funded and citizens can see how decisions are made. African governments are increasingly moving from broad statements about artificial intelligence to questions of institutional design: which ministry leads, what standards apply, how data is protected and how public agencies will be held accountable.

That makes delivery the central test for this development. The next phase should show measurable milestones, transparent consultation and a practical connection between policy and the organisations expected to implement it. It is also important to distinguish a formally approved plan from an operating programme. The former signals intent; the latter demonstrates capacity. For businesses, researchers and civil-society groups, that distinction will determine whether the initiative creates usable rules and opportunities or remains another statement of ambition.