Artificial Intelligence · Sao Tome and Principe
AI regulation in Sao Tome and Principe (2026)
Sao Tome and Principe shaded by its artificial intelligence status
Sao Tome and Principe has no national AI legislation, dedicated AI strategy, sectoral AI rules, or formal AI guidelines as of May 2026. The country's digital governance is at an early stage of development, focused on foundational infrastructure, cybersecurity, and e-government, with no AI-specific governance instrument enacted or formally proposed. As an AU member state, it falls under the voluntary Continental AI Strategy adopted in July 2024, but has not translated this into domestic policy.
Key points
No law, executive decree, ministerial guideline, or proposed bill addresses AI governance specifically in Sao Tome and Principe. The OECD AI Policy Navigator and UNESCO's Africa AI needs assessment both confirm the absence of a national AI strategy or regulation for the country.
The most advanced digital governance instrument is the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2028, covering digital security, law enforcement capacity, and governance frameworks for the digital ecosystem, but it does not address AI regulation or ethics.
Since 2019, the United Nations University Electronic Governance Unit (UNU-EGOV) has been assisting the National Institute for Knowledge and Innovation (INIC) to draft a broader National Strategy for Digital Governance and the Information Society; this document does not constitute an AI-specific policy.
The World Bank-financed Digital Sao Tome and Principe project (P177158) supports modernisation of telecommunications law, cybersecurity functions, digital ID, and a data governance policy (targeted for release in late 2025), but does not include AI-specific regulation.
The African Union Executive Council endorsed the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy in July 2024, calling on all 55 AU member states—including Sao Tome and Principe—to develop national AI strategies and align with shared principles on ethics and inclusion. This is a voluntary framework; no binding obligation or domestic implementing measure has been adopted by Sao Tome and Principe.
UNESCO's AI needs assessment surveys for Africa identified Sao Tome and Principe among countries reporting significant human resource and financial gaps in addressing AI ethics and governance, and noted the country had listed AI development as a priority in national development plans without enacting formal governance instruments.
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Last verified 5/25/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →