Senegal and ICRC call for human control over military AI

In Dakar, Senegal, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Senegalese Ministry of African Integration, and Swiss representatives convened to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in armed conflicts. Experts and diplomats expressed urgent concerns regarding the integration of AI into weaponry and the potential for machines to make autonomous decisions regarding life and death.

Jean-Nicolas Marty, the ICRC regional delegation head in Dakar, emphasized that a human official must intervene before any military action is taken and must remain responsible for the consequences. Similarly, Ibrahima Cissé, an advisor to the Senegalese Ministry of African Integration, advocated for collective international reflection and stronger regulation to prevent irreversible consequences from uncontrolled technology use in warfare.

The participants noted that while AI is increasingly present in conflict zones, existing frameworks like the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law provide a legal basis for managing these technologies. The discussions highlighted a shared commitment to ensuring that human judgment remains central to any decision involving the use of lethal force.