Africa is experiencing a surge in investments aimed at building sovereign AI infrastructure, as governments, private sector players, and global tech giants race to close the continent’s compute gap and position it as a player in the global AI economy.
At the forefront is Cassava Technologies, the pan-African tech firm founded by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, which has partnered with Nvidia in a landmark $700 million initiative to deploy GPU-powered data centers across the continent. The project, dubbed Africa’s first “AI Factory,” began rollout in South Africa in mid-2025, with initial deployments of thousands of Nvidia GPUs. Expansion is underway to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, aiming for 12,000 GPUs in total over the next few years. Cassava recently launched the continent’s first GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), enabling local businesses, startups, and researchers to access high-performance computing without relying on foreign infrastructure. “This is about empowering Africa to write its own AI future with local compute,” said Cassava President Hardy Pemhiwa.
Global tech leaders are also deepening commitments. Microsoft announced an additional $300 million investment in South Africa to expand cloud and AI infrastructure by 2027, building on prior data center developments in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The funds will support growing demand for Azure services and include skilling programs certifying 50,000 youth in AI and digital roles. In Kenya, Microsoft and Abu Dhabi-based G42 are advancing a geothermal-powered AI data center project. Google has committed millions toward AI training and connectivity across Sub-Saharan Africa, while the UAE pledged $1 billion for AI infrastructure and services continent-wide.
These private investments align with the African Union’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, endorsed in 2024 and entering implementation in 2025. The strategy emphasizes renewable-powered data centers, regional compute hubs, and cross-border infrastructure to foster sovereign AI capabilities. AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato D. Mataboge has highlighted the need for investment in digital infrastructure amid challenges like limited compute capacity Africa holds less than 1% globally.
Experts project that coordinated “green” computing investments could unlock $1.2–1.5 trillion in economic value by 2030, driven by AI applications in agriculture, healthcare, finance, and logistics. Initiatives like Nairobi’s IXAfrica campus partnering with Safaricom for AI-ready facilities and Senegal’s national data center underscore growing national efforts.
However, challenges persist: power shortages, high costs, and uneven distribution with over 80% of AI startup funding concentrated in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. Advocates stress the need for inclusive policies to ensure benefits reach underserved regions.
As 2025 draws to a close, Africa’s AI infrastructure push signals a shift from adoption to ownership, potentially transforming the continent into a hub for innovation and digital sovereignty.
