The African Union (AU) Commission has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Google to accelerate artificial intelligence deployment and digital transformation initiatives across the continent, in a move aimed at strengthening Africa’s long-term technological sovereignty.
The formalised agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Commissioner Lerato D. Mataboge, responsible for Infrastructure and Energy, and Charles Njenga Murito, Google’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Government Affairs & Public Policy. The partnership signals a strategic shift from technology consumption toward building endogenous digital capacity.
Rather than focusing solely on adoption, the collaboration is structured around enhancing Africa’s sovereign digital infrastructure and institutional resilience. It aligns with the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030), and is anchored on five core pillars:
• Expansion of AI, digital and cloud infrastructure
• AI talent development and human capital formation
• Research, education, innovation and centres of excellence
• Entrepreneurship, startups and MSME ecosystem support
• Policy development, governance and responsible AI frameworks
Addressing stakeholders at the ceremony, Commissioner Mataboge positioned the agreement within the continent’s broader economic transformation agenda.
“Under the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030), we have committed to building inclusive digital economies that leave no one behind. In parallel, the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy provides a clear framework for how Africa will develop and govern AI in a way that is ethical, responsible, inclusive, and development oriented,” said, Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner, Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
Google, for its part, framed the partnership as a shift toward strengthening institutional readiness and public sector AI integration. Murito said the agreement is intended to move the continent “from digital access to digital agency.”
As part of the rollout, Google announced an AI readiness training programme for African public officials, launched in collaboration with Cori Zarek and Apolitical. The company also committed to training 3 million students and teachers by 2030 and will provide free access to Gemini Pro and NotebookLM. Importantly, these tools now support local languages including Amharic, a development aimed at broadening participation and contextual relevance in AI deployment.
The signing ceremony was attended by young African innovators and university students from Addis Ababa, who engaged directly with the signatories during the event. Their participation underscored the partnership’s emphasis on youth inclusion and skills development as central to long-term digital competitiveness.
“Today’s signing is a symbol of partnership. But tomorrow’s success will depend on your participation,” he said..
The MoU reflects a joint commitment to leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen digital public infrastructure, widen economic opportunity, embed responsible innovation frameworks and position Africa more prominently within the evolving global digital economy.
