Morocco on Thursday called for the establishment of African mechanisms for monitoring, early warning and rapid response to address challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI), particularly information manipulation, while also promoting systems to detect hate speech and manage information crises.
Speaking via videoconference at the Ministerial Meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), dedicated to AI and its implications for governance, peace and security in Africa, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said the initiative also involves strengthening African human capital in AI-related fields, developing engagement frameworks with digital platforms, and fostering African AI solutions tailored to conflict prevention and peace support operations.
He emphasised Morocco’s commitment to promoting AI as a tool for peace, security and sustainable development across the continent.
Addressing the transformations driven by AI, Bourita outlined three major areas of concern. The first relates to governance, marked by the challenges posed by the proliferation of manipulated content and disinformation campaigns that can influence democratic processes and undermine trust in institutions.
The second concerns conflict dynamics, characterised by the growing use of AI in conflict settings, particularly through the spread of hate speech and targeted opinion manipulation, which can exacerbate tensions.
The third relates to peacekeeping, in an increasingly complex operational environment shaped by the multiplication of information sources and the emergence of hybrid threats.
The Moroccan official noted that the Kingdom is committed to leveraging AI as a strategic tool for sovereignty, development and public policy. He also welcomed ambitious continental initiatives, including the establishment of an AI advisory group, and reaffirmed Morocco’s full support for African efforts aimed at ensuring equitable and sovereign access to this technology.
He reiterated Morocco’s commitment to supporting African AI initiatives with the aim of fostering a sovereign, responsible and people-centered African AI ecosystem.
Morocco’s participation in the meeting follows the first-ever PSC ministerial session dedicated to AI, held on March 20, 2025, under Moroccan chairmanship.
AK/Sf/lb/as/APA