Artificial intelligence is reshaping global armed conflict, and Africa cannot afford to be on the margins. The continent is already experiencing the promise and perils of AI adoption. Drones with AI-assisted navigation and target identification are proliferating. AI-powered intelligence networks are identifying suspects in terrorist attacks. Cybercriminals, armed nonstate actors, and foreign powers are using AI to engage in daring thefts, spread propaganda, and sow unrest. The question is no longer if AI will affect African defense forces, but how.
The Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Defense Forces toolkit offers advice and recommendations for African policymakers and defense sector practitioners seeking to use AI to make their nations more secure. It draws on lessons from across the continent, comparative global experiences, and the deliberations of African warfighters and experts convened by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in April 2025. The toolkit provides a framework for AI adoption that can be used to enhance African defense capabilities and advance African sovereignty, tailored to Africa’s security landscape and informed by an understanding of AI’s risks and benefits.
