Cameroon Unveils 2040 AI Roadmap Anchored on Seven Strategic Pillars

The government of Cameroon has officially launched its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (SNIA), outlining a comprehensive framework to develop AI capacity across critical sectors and position the country as a regional leader in AI innovation by 2040.

Unveiled by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications,  Minette Libom Li Likeng, the strategy was presented during the second edition of the National Consultations on AI (CONIA). It sets out a long-term vision for AI integration in governance, infrastructure, education, and economic development, underpinned by principles of sovereignty, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

The strategy is structured around seven strategic pillars:

1. Governance and Digital Sovereignty: The government will establish a dedicated AI Authority and a Presidential Council on AI. A national AI legal framework will be developed to coordinate ethics, regulation, and inter-ministerial implementation.

2. Data and Infrastructure: Plans include the creation of a government Data Lake, mass digitisation of public services, national interoperability standards, and an Open Data policy to support AI deployment at scale.

3. Multilingual and Inclusive AI: A sovereign large language model, “GPT Cameroon,” will be developed to support local and national languages. This initiative will also involve voice data collection and linguistic research to increase language representation in digital technologies.

4. Sovereign Technological Infrastructure: The strategy includes the deployment of 15 edge computing nodes powered by solar microgrids to ensure energy-resilient AI processing across all regions.

5. Human Capital and Research: Cameroon aims to train 4,000 people annually, establish five national AI centers of excellence, and implement a program to attract diaspora talent. Support will also be directed to strengthen national research capacity.

6. Innovation and Sectoral Use Cases: The plan will foster AI adoption in health, agriculture, education, and justice. Startup support and sector-specific innovation programs will be deployed to accelerate AI-driven development.

7. Regional and International Cooperation: A regional AI network for Central Africa will be created, along with mechanisms to expand cooperation and export locally developed AI tools under the “Made in Cameroon” label.

According to government estimates, implementation of the strategy could create 12,000 direct jobs and increase AI’s contribution to GDP by up to 1.2% by 2040.

Officials say the strategy reflects Cameroon’s ambition to integrate AI as a driver of public service delivery, industrial growth, and digital sovereignty, while ensuring ethical use and cultural relevance in its deployment.

The SNIA will serve as a policy foundation for cross-sector investment, institutional reform, and international partnership as the country builds a long-term, inclusive digital economy.