Conakry Crowned Digital Capital: AI Revolution Kicks Off in West Africa at Historic Transform Africa Summit

TOP AFRICA NEWS Reporter

CONAKRY, GUINEA — The 7th edition of the Transform Africa Summit (TAS) 2025 officially opened in Conakry this week, marking a historic milestone as the event is hosted for the very first time in Francophone West Africa. The three-day event, gathering visionary leaders, innovators, and distinguished delegates, focuses on the critical theme: “Artificial Intelligence for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally”.

The summit, held under the high patronage of the government of the Republic of Guinea and the leadership of Smart Africa, positions Conakry as the “capital of digital Africa”.

A New Era: From Ore to Algorithm

The opening ceremony emphasized Guinea’s ambition to transition into a new digital era. Rose Pola Prissemou, Guinea’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, declared that the country’s wealth is no longer limited to its subsurface minerals but lies in the “talents, ideas, and connections of our citizens”. This shift signals a continent moving “from ore to digital”.

President Mamady Doumbouya, host of the summit, stated that the theme of the event aligns perfectly with Guinea’s long-term socio-economic development plan, Simandou 2040, whose third pillar focuses on using technology to improve the well-being of the population.

The call from Guinea’s leadership is clear: Africa must not submit to the technological revolution but must drive it. The vision is to construct an “African AI,” designed by local engineers, nurtured by African data, and dedicated to the welfare of its people.

Smart Africa Drives Continental Action

The summit drew high-level participation, including President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, who is also the Chairman of the Smart Africa Board. Mr. Lacina Koné, Director General of Smart Africa, noted that the event intervenes at a crucial time when AI is redefining development.

Smart Africa, which has grown to 42 member states representing over 1.2 billion people, seeks to accelerate the continent’s digital transformation through policy harmonization, innovation, and investment. Koné emphasized that Africa has moved from mere “conversation to coordination and from ambition to action” concerning AI. The organization is focusing on three essential pillars: digital sovereignty (via critical infrastructure), inclusivity (via initiatives like Sania), and innovation led by African youth and start-ups.

Smart Africa stresses that the goal is to build AI not just for profit, but “for purpose,” recognizing that Africa’s unique diversity—2,000 languages and ways of thinking—is a valuable resource for solving global challenges.

Guinea’s Digital Foundation

Guinea demonstrated its commitment to digital sovereignty by detailing its rapid infrastructural development. Key achievements highlighted include:

• The deployment of over 12,000 km of fiber optic across the national territory.
• The establishment of a Tier 3 national data center, symbolizing technological independence.
• The connection of over 500 schools through the Giga project (in partnership with ITU and UNICEF).
• Effective regional digital interconnections with neighbors like Mali, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire.

As a testament to pan-African cooperation, Guinea used the opening to launch the Telemo platform for the digitalization of public procurement, a solution stemming from a partnership with Rwanda.

The ceremony itself blended technology with culture. Following the powerful interpretation of the national anthem by Jellyaba Bintou, Baoba Circus offered a “digital journey between artificial intelligence and creativity”. The vibrant atmosphere was further amplified by a surprise performance from the artist Black M, highlighting the energy of the continent.

The message emanating from Conakry is one of confidence: “Africa is not behind; it is at the forefront of its own future”.