State House, Freetown, Monday, 9 November 2026 – President Dr Julius Maada Bio has urged for enhanced international cooperation to ensure the safe and responsible development of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) models. He stressed the necessity for African nations and other developing countries to have a significant role in shaping global standards for this rapidly advancing technology.
Speaking at a High-Level Virtual Meeting on Frontier Model Security convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, President Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s belief that AI development must remain under human oversight.
The President recalled Sierra Leone’s endorsement of the Call for Control of Frontier AI Models at the United Nations General Assembly in September, highlighting the meeting as an opportunity to implement those commitments. He shared that Sierra Leone has completed a National AI Readiness Assessment, which will inform the country’s first National AI Strategy, exploring how AI can enhance various sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.
President Bio also noted the importance of integrating safety and accountability into AI development, balancing opportunities with appropriate safeguards against risks. He called for common standards for evaluating AI safety and effective international mechanisms for incident reporting.
Emphasising the need for collaboration, he stated that no country can face these challenges in isolation, urging for a cooperative approach that respects national sovereignty.
He argued that AI governance should include input from African and developing countries and called for investments in scientific expertise and evaluation tools to allow these nations to participate effectively in global governance.
The President welcomed the proposed Paris Declaration, highlighting its focus on evaluation standards and international cooperation in addressing AI-related incidents. He called for actionable measures to be put in place to ensure the extraordinary potential of AI is realised while safeguarding human safety and control.
The virtual meeting included world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as senior representatives from leading technology companies, reflecting the critical collaboration needed between governments and the tech industry for responsible AI development.
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