Who will control Africa’s AI infrastructure, and at what cost?
Key takeaways
- Data centres and AI systems are expanding across Africa, bringing new pressure on energy and resources.
- Beneath the enthusiasm, however, sits a more fundamental question.
- The debate reflects a broader shift in how policymakers are thinking about AI.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Data centres and AI systems are expanding across Africa, bringing new pressure on energy and resources.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) boom is being built at speed, but the physical infrastructure behind it remains uneven [File: Dado Ruvic/Illustration via Reuters]By Aaliyah Vayez Published On 26 Jun 202626 Jun 2026Johannesburg, South Africa – In April, African Union ministers gathered in Tangier, Morocco, to discuss artificial intelligence at a moment when governments across the continent are racing to develop AI strategies, attract investment and expand digital infrastructure.
Beneath the enthusiasm, however, sits a more fundamental question. As foreign technology companies invest in data centres, cloud services and AI systems across Africa, how much control will African countries ultimately have over the infrastructure on which those technologies depend?