African Central Banks Turn to AI, Digital Risks as Nairobi Meeting Begins
African central bank governors are meeting in Nairobi this week to examine how emerging technologies and new economic risks are changing the way monetary authorities manage financial systems across the continent.
The 2026 Annual Meetings of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB), hosted by the Central Bank of Kenya from September 13 to 18, bring together monetary authorities for discussions on artificial intelligence, financial stability, digital finance, cybersecurity, climate-related risks and closer monetary cooperation.
Artificial intelligence is expected to take centre stage at a dedicated conference on September 16, where policymakers and financial-sector experts will consider how AI can be used in areas such as economic analysis, fraud detection, financial supervision and risk monitoring. The discussions will also examine concerns around data protection, cybersecurity and the reliability of automated systems.
The growing use of digital payments and mobile financial services will form another major part of the meetings. While digital finance has expanded access to financial services across Africa, increasingly connected systems have also exposed banks and payment platforms to new cyber threats, putting pressure on regulators to balance innovation with stronger safeguards.
Governors will also assess risks to financial stability, including the impact of climate-related shocks on banks, insurers, governments and other financial institutions. Discussions on inflation, reserve management and payment-system integration are expected to feed into broader efforts to improve economic coordination and convergence among African economies.
The meetings come as African countries seek to deepen cross-border payments and trade under continental integration initiatives. A meeting of the governing council of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System is also scheduled during the programme.
The week will conclude with the 48th Assembly of AACB Governors on September 18, while Kenya’s central bank is also marking its 60th anniversary. The Nairobi gathering therefore provides an opportunity for African monetary authorities to assess how their institutions must evolve as technology, climate pressures and increasingly interconnected financial systems reshape the continent’s economy.
