Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, has called for developing countries, particularly those in Africa, to have greater capacity to assess and oversee artificial intelligence (AI) systems before and after they are deployed.
He made the call in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during an international conference on AI use organised by AI Safety Connect (AISC).
Nsengiyumva said deploying AI technologies in countries that had little or no involvement in their development or testing could expose them to risks, particularly where they have limited capacity to manage potential consequences.
He said countries should assess the safety and reliability of new technologies before adopting them and establish who should be held accountable if they cause harm.
“As we make decisions to expand the use of this technology, there are three questions every government should ask: Is it safe? Is it reliable? Who will be held accountable if something goes wrong?” he said.
The Prime Minister raised a similar issue on September 21 during discussions on promoting trade and investment in Africa, where he said the continent’s focus should go beyond how to use AI to understanding who develops the technology and how it works.
He said African countries should have a meaningful role in the development of AI and other emerging technologies, enabling them to understand how the systems can be governed and how potential risks can be addressed.
During his visit to New York, Nsengiyumva also met Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO).
Their discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen cooperation in technology development, innovation and inclusive digital transformation, as well as promoting responsible use of emerging technologies, including AI.
