Mozambique Charts Course as Regional AI Powerhouse

As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates across Africa, a strategic competition is emerging over where this technology will physically reside. While major tech companies establish data centers in hubs like Cape Town, nations like Mozambique are actively seeking digital independence.

Professor Lourino Chemane, President of the Board of Directors at Mozambique’s National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC), envisions his country becoming a central AI infrastructure hub for Southern Africa. Speaking on the sidelines of GITEX Nigeria, Chemane emphasized that this isn’t about competition with established tech centers but rather creating complementary regional capacity.

“We are not looking at this from a competition point of view with South Africa,” Chemane stated. “If you’re aware of the AI industry, you don’t need to concentrate computing power in one single country. You need to distribute it across the region.”

Leveraging Natural Advantages

Mozambique possesses significant assets that position it well for this transition: abundant renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, gas), ample water resources for cooling data centers, and a long coastline suitable for submarine fiber optic cables.

The government plans to use these advantages to attract hyperscalers outside major urban areas, transforming the nation into a digital hub that complements rather than competes with its neighbors. This approach aligns with regional development goals outlined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Addressing Data Governance Challenges

One key challenge is ensuring cross-border data flow while respecting national sovereignty. Chemane pointed to the African Union’s data governance strategy as a framework for resolving this tension, allowing data exchange without compromising security or citizen privacy.

“Data is regarded as the gold of this century,” he noted, “and Africa should take that into consideration when building its AI infrastructure.”

Empowering Local Innovation

Beyond providing compute resources, Mozambique aims to nurture a vibrant ecosystem for local AI developers. INTIC has partnered with organizations like Vodacom Mozambique to align digital policy with commercial realities and ensure equitable access to technology.

The government is establishing an AI regulatory sandbox—with guaranteed compute provision—to support startups and enable the development of culturally relevant AI models that address unique Mozambican needs.