Reframing digital peacebuilding in Africa: the role of AI and local agency

Abstract

Traditional peacebuilding centres on conflict management and resolution through institutional frameworks and reconciliation processes. More modern and reframed peacebuilding incorporates technological solutions while prioritising social justice principles to achieve and sustain peace. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is a critical development in peacebuilding processes in Africa. It offers the potential to enhance the capabilities of peacebuilders and local practitioners, as well as increase local agency. Incorporating AI and digital technologies into peacebuilding frameworks is not merely a technological enhancement but a fundamental transformation in the conception, implementation, and maintenance of peace initiatives. Despite emerging regulations around military applications of AI, there remains a significant gap in comprehensive global policy frameworks addressing AI’s broader implications for peacebuilding mechanisms. Reframing digital peacebuilding in Africa necessitates that African countries and the international system have clear policy guidance to guarantee that technological innovation reinforces the fundamental principles of sustainable peace development rather than undermining them. Policy instruments are needed to guide how AI and digital tools improve traditional peacebuilding goals and mechanisms, such as countering electoral misinformation and assisting with post-conflict reconstruction. This brief provides guidance to policymakers seeking to use AI technologies responsibly in peacebuilding initiatives in Africa.