Key takeaways
- A strategic summit: TAS 2025 gathers heads of state, ministers, investors and innovators in Conakry around AI.
- Conakry in the spotlight: Guinea positions itself as a regional digital hub with a data center, submarine cable and connected schools.
- Sovereign AI: focus on local, inclusive and ethical solutions for education, health, finance and agriculture.
- Concrete projects: launch of the Africa AI Council, a dedicated AI fund, and acceleration of Smart Africa programmes.
Key takeaways
- A strategic summit: TAS 2025 gathers heads of state, ministers, investors and innovators in Conakry around AI.
- Conakry in the spotlight: Guinea positions itself as a regional digital hub with a data center, submarine cable and connected schools.
- Sovereign AI: focus on local, inclusive and ethical solutions for education, health, finance and agriculture.
- Concrete projects: launch of the Africa AI Council, a dedicated AI fund, and acceleration of Smart Africa programmes.
Conakry, the new meeting point for digital Africa
On a continent where youth overflows with ideas and socio-economic challenges call for bold solutions, artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful lever to rethink the future.
From November 12 to 14, 2025, the Guinean capital hosts the 7th edition of the Transform Africa Summit (TAS 2025), organised by the Smart Africa Alliance with the Guinean government. Under the theme ‘AI for Africa: innovate locally, impact globally’, the summit makes Conakry the epicenter of African digital cooperation.
Why Conakry? A turning point for francophone Africa
For the first time, TAS lands in francophone West Africa, a symbolic milestone for Guinea. Right after launching the continent’s largest mining project – Simandou 2040 – the country is pivoting to digital with the ambition to move from an extractive economy to an era of technological sovereignty.
Conakry is becoming a regional hub with a national Tier-3 data center, a submarine cable connection, 500+ connected schools and regional digital hubs.
Chaired by General Mamadi Doumbouya, with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Smart Africa CEO Lacina Koné, the summit brings 2,200+ participants to the Radisson Blu Hotel for panels, expos and bilateral meetings.
AI at the core: innovate local, reach global
The TAS 2025 theme is no accident. AI is no longer a distant buzzword; it is a concrete tool to tackle African priorities — inclusive governance, accessible education, stronger healthcare, finance for entrepreneurs, and resilient agriculture.
The focus is on sovereign, ethical and inclusive AI that amplifies local talent — youth, women, entrepreneurs — instead of importing turnkey solutions.
Summit highlights
Smart Africa, now counting 42 member states representing 2.2 billion people, is moving from talk to action: One Africa Network, Smart Broadband 2025 and the Smart Africa Digital Academy are accelerating digital transformation.
- High-level panels on connectivity, cybersecurity and African innovation.
- Expos and workshops on concrete use cases: AI in healthcare, agriculture, finance and public services.
- Structuring announcements: launch of the Africa AI Council and a dedicated AI fund led by Smart Africa.
- Cultural touch with Guinean artist Black M performing pan-African unity on the opening stage.
Towards a connected and prosperous continent
By linking ‘ore’ to ‘digital’, Conakry sends a strong signal: Africa is not waiting anymore. It innovates, cooperates and impacts.
For startups, investors and decision-makers, the summit is a goldmine of opportunities: regional partnerships, funding for AI-made-in-Africa projects, and public-private alliances.
If you are looking for inspiration and networking, heading to Smart Africa’s official site to register is a must. Africa in AI mode? It is now — and it happens in Conakry.
Conclusion
With the Transform Africa Summit 2025, Africa makes it clear it no longer wants to be a mere technology consumer but a creator of solutions tailored to its own realities. Conakry becomes the symbol of a continent owning its digital and collective ambition.
This article is inspired by news from Transform Africa Summit 2025. For more information or to attend future editions, visit smartafrica.org.
AH
Author
AI HUB Editorial
Research Desk
