TOWARDS DECOLONIZED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES IN AFRICA: INTEGRATING AI AND INDIGENEOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

What has come to be known as Africa’s environmental governance has long been shaped by colonial-era policies that prioritize Western conservation models, extractive industries, and externally imposed regulatory frameworks. This study interrogates the intersection of sustainable development, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in reshaping Africa’s environmental policies beyond neo-colonial paradigms. It argues that AI, when ethically integrated with indigenous ecological knowledge, can serve as a de-colonial tool, challenging exploitative environmental governance and fostering locally driven, sustainable solutions. Drawing from historical and contemporary case studies, such as the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, indigenous-led reforestation efforts in Madagascar, and AI-powered climate resilience initiatives in West Africa, the paper explores how African communities are reclaiming environmental sovereignty through technological and cultural synergies. It examines the role of global financial institutions, transnational corporations, and African political elites in maintaining dependency-driven environmental policies. It also assesses grassroots movements advocating for policy reforms rooted in indigenous ecological traditions. The paper evaluates the ethical dilemmas of AI-driven environmental governance, questioning the risks of data colonialism and technological exclusion. By analyzing policy shifts, entrepreneurial innovations, and community-led resistance, this study posits that true sustainability in Africa hinges on an environmental framework that is not only technologically advanced but also culturally and historically attuned to indigenous knowledge systems. The paper concludes by advocating for a hybrid governance model that integrates AI’s predictive capabilities with the time-tested wisdom of Africa’s ecological traditions, ensuring that environmental sovereignty becomes central to Africa’s political and economic emancipation.