Algorithmic Sovereignty: Regulating Artificial Intelligence and Data Colonialism under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Framework

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has created unprecedented opportunities for economic development while simultaneously exposing African nations to new forms of digital dependency and data exploitation. This research examines the intersection of algorithmic sovereignty, AI regulation, and data colonialism within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. Through comprehensive analysis of existing regulatory frameworks, international data governance models, and emerging African digital policies, this study identifies critical gaps in continental approaches to AI governance and proposes an integrated regulatory framework that balances innovation with sovereignty protection. The research demonstrates that while AfCFTA provides a unique institutional platform for coordinated AI governance, African nations must urgently develop harmonized regulations to prevent the perpetuation of colonial-era extraction patterns in the digital economy. Drawing on comparative analysis of European Union's AI Act, China's algorithmic governance model, and nascent African Union initiatives, this paper argues for a distinctly African approach to algorithmic sovereignty that prioritizes local data ownership, algorithmic transparency, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. The findings suggest that effective AI regulation under AfCFTA requires multilevel governance structures combining continental standards with national implementation flexibility, substantial investment in technological infrastructure, and strategic partnerships that preserve African agency in the global digital economy.