Join the webinar using this link: https://cigionline-org.zoom.us/j/88980275328?pwd=WZUbomQOIlcVy8fncsKS29tWhCPYst.1
This Africa Forum panel brings together leading scholars from Senegal, South Africa, and Ethiopia to explore the ethical, inclusive, and decolonial dimensions of artificial intelligence governance in Africa. The discussion will consider how African research, values, and policy frameworks can shape global conversations on AI, drawing on experiences across health, law, and technology sectors.
The session will highlight perspectives from Prof. Sylvain Landry Birane Faye (Cheikh Anta Diop University), Dr. Sagwadi Mabunda (University of the Western Cape), and Dr. Beakal Gizachew Assefa (Addis Ababa Institute of Technology). The panel will reflect on opportunities for inclusive and context-sensitive AI systems and discuss how decolonial ethics can inform the design, deployment, and governance of emerging technologies across the continent.
About the Speakers
Dr. Sagwadi Mabunda is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of the Western Cape, an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, and an accredited mediator. She specializes in cybercrime legislation, transnational criminal justice, and anti-money-laundering law. Holding a PhD on The South African Legislative Response to Cybercrime, her research examines how legal systems adapt to digital threats and evolving technologies. Dr. Mabunda has served as a research fellow with CyberBRICS (Brazil), New America’s Digital Futures Task Force (Washington D.C.), and the Royal United Services Institute (London). At UWC, she leads the Department of Justice & Procedure’s internationalization portfolio and supervises postgraduate research in cyberlaw and economic crimes. Her presentation, “Ubuntu, Law, and the Future of AI Governance,” draws on her legal scholarship and practical experience to explore how African philosophical traditions can inform ethical AI regulation and digital justice.
Professor Sylvain Landry Birane Faye is a Full Professor of Sociology and Anthropology of Health at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (Senegal), where he directs the LASAP-ETHOS research team. He holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Bordeaux (France). Professor Faye’s work bridges the socio-anthropology of health, technology ethics, and the critical study of artificial intelligence in African contexts. His research explores the cultural and ethical dimensions of AI in public health, data governance, and algorithmic justice, emphasizing gender, inclusion, and community participation. A member of UNESCO’s AI Ethics Experts Without Borders network, he contributes to AI policy and capacity-building across Africa. His recent presentation, “AI, Health, and Ethical Challenges in Africa,” highlights lessons from his IDRC-funded AI4-DECLIC SN project and ongoing efforts to advance equitable, locally grounded approaches to AI governance and digital sovereignty.
Dr. Beakal Gizachew Assefa is a researcher and faculty member at the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT), specializing in artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning. His research examines the applications of AI across sectors including health, finance, and agriculture, with a particular focus on algorithmic fairness, trustworthy AI, and digital policy in African contexts. Dr. Assefa’s work integrates technical innovation with questions of governance and social impact, contributing to Ethiopia’s growing role in shaping responsible and context-sensitive AI systems. His presentation, “AI Fairness and Digital Policy in Ethiopia,” explores how national research and policy frameworks can foster inclusive, transparent, and equitable AI development across the region.
