AI regulation in Côte d'Ivoire: laws & policy (2026)

Legal framework

Stratégie Nationale de l'Intelligence Artificielle à l'horizon 2030 (SNIA 2030), supervised by the Ministère de la Transition Numérique et de la Digitalisation; data protection underpinned by Loi n° 2013-450 du 19 juin 2013, enforced by ARTCI

Key points: artificial intelligence in Côte d'Ivoire

1. 01SNIA 2030 launch

   The Stratégie Nationale de l'Intelligence Artificielle à l'horizon 2030 was formally presented to Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on 13 March 2025, following a public consultation initiated by ARTCI in April 2024 that drew input from over 1,500 stakeholders across government, private sector, academia, and civil society.

   telecom.gouv.ci dig.watch

2. 02Three strategic pillars

   The SNIA 2030 is structured around investment (infrastructure, skills, data, funding), inclusion (equitable access and societal impact), and governance (legal/ethical framework, responsible AI deployment). The strategy targets a projected budget exceeding 1 trillion CFA francs (~$1.8 billion) through 2030.

   telecom.gouv.ci oecd.ai

3. 03Planned National AI Agency (ANIA)

   The strategy foresees the creation of the Agence Nationale de l'Intelligence Artificielle (ANIA), which will house dedicated poles for governance and ethics (including a 'Safe AI Côte d'Ivoire' certification), prototyping and innovation, training, and strategic watch. A National Committee for AI and Data Governance is also envisaged. Neither body is yet legally constituted.

   telecom.gouv.ci regulations.ai

4. 04National Data Governance Strategy (SNGD 2030)

   Complementing the SNIA, Côte d'Ivoire launched its Stratégie Nationale de Gouvernance des Données (SNGD 2030) in April 2025, aimed at unlocking the socio-economic value of data while safeguarding privacy and intellectual property rights. It operates in synergy with the SNIA but is likewise a policy document rather than binding law.

   dig.watch wearetech.africa

5. 05Applicable data-protection law

   Loi n° 2013-450 du 19 juin 2013 relative à la protection des données à caractère personnel is the existing binding instrument with indirect relevance to AI; ARTCI acts as the supervisory authority. The ARTCI has conducted compliance studies and workshops on AI's implications for this law, but has not issued AI-specific regulations.

   artci.ci africanlegalfactory.com

6. 06AfDB support and innovation fund

   The African Development Bank is supporting Côte d'Ivoire's AI strategy with approximately $80 million. Additionally, the government announced a 450 billion CFA franc (~$800 million) innovation fund at the Ivoire Tech Forum 2025 to back AI startups and advance digital sovereignty, signalling ambition to become a regional AI hub.

   africaainews.com ecofinagency.com

Timeline of decisions

1. 14 May 2025Guidance
   SNIA 2030 and SNGD 2030 presented to private sector by Ministry and CGECI

   The Ministry of Digital Transition and the Ivorian Business Confederation (CGECI) jointly presented the National AI Strategy (SNIA 2030) and National Data Governance Strategy (SNGD 2030) to the private sector, outlining compliance expectations, investment opportunities, and the planned Safe AI Côte d'Ivoire certification mechanism developed with UNESCO.

   CGECI (Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d'Ivoire)

2. 13 Mar 2025Decision · official
   National AI Strategy (SNIA 2030) and Data Governance Strategy (SNGD 2030) officially launched

   Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé officially unveiled Côte d'Ivoire's Stratégie Nationale de l'Intelligence Artificielle (SNIA 2030) and Stratégie Nationale de la Gouvernance des Données (SNGD 2030) at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan. The SNIA carries a projected budget exceeding 1 trillion CFA francs through 2030, plans a National AI Agency, mandates ethical and legal standards, and introduces a 'Safe AI' label; developed with input from over 1,500 stakeholders and aligned with the AU Continental AI Strategy.

   Gouvernement de Côte d'Ivoire

3. 17 Jun 2024Decision · official
   African Union Continental AI Strategy adopted — Côte d'Ivoire aligns SNIA development

   African Ministers adopted the AU Continental AI Strategy at the 13th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council, endorsing an Africa-centric, development-focused approach to ethical and responsible AI alongside the African Digital Compact. Côte d'Ivoire explicitly structured its SNIA 2030 drafting process to conform to this AU framework, making continental alignment a formal design constraint of national AI policy.

   African Union

4. 1 Apr 2024Guidance
   ARTCI opens public consultation on AI and metaverse regulation

   The Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority (ARTCI) launched a multi-stakeholder public consultation on the technical, ethical, and societal challenges of AI and the metaverse, directly feeding into SNIA 2030 drafting. ARTCI also planned regulatory impact studies on professional biometrics, video surveillance, drone use, and data-protection implications of AI — signalling the regulator's intent to issue sector-specific AI guidance.

   DataGuidance / ARTCI

Sources

1. 1.telecom.gouv.ci/new/uploads/publications/174196670372.pdf
2. 2.oecd.ai/en/dashboards/policy-initiatives/national-artificial-intelligence-str
3. 3.dig.watch/resource/cote-divoires-national-strategy-for-ai
4. 4.regulations.ai/regulations/RAI-CI-NA-CDNASXX-2025
5. 5.artci.ci/index.php/secteurs-regules/protection-des-donnees.html
6. 6.africanlegalfactory.com/2024/01/30/understanding-personal-data-protection-in-cote-divoire/?la
7. 7.ecofinagency.com/news-digital/0905-55432-cote-divoire-is-betting-big-on-ai-and-facing-
8. 8.wearetech.africa/fr/fils/actualites/tech/la-cote-d-ivoire-devoile-sa-strategie-de-l-ia
9. 9.africaainews.com/p/ai-takes-hold-within-government-cote