Autonomous weapons: Senegal wants binding international rules on AI

Senegal is advocating for binding international rules to ban lethal autonomous weapons systems that rely on artificial intelligence (AI), particularly when they can strike people indiscriminately or produce unpredictable effects.
This position was reaffirmed on Tuesday in Dakar by Ambassador Ibrahima Cissé, a member of the cabinet of the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad.

Speaking at the 2026 Humanitarium, the diplomat stated that the rise of AI in armed conflicts raises new questions for international humanitarian law. The forum, held at the Museum of Black Civilizations, is an initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Swiss Embassy in Senegal, and the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For Ibrahima Cissé, the use of AI in the military field certainly presents possibilities for better protecting civilian populations. The rapid analysis of large amounts of information could, in particular, help anticipate certain risks and limit damage.

But this technology also presents dangers when used in weapons systems, cyber operations, or military decision-making processes. The diplomat specifically mentions the risks of errors, unpredictability, and reduced human control.
Dakar thus reiterates that the rules of international humanitarian law must remain applicable, regardless of the technology used on the battlefield. The principles of distinction between civilians and combatants, proportionality, and precaution must, in particular, continue to govern the conduct of hostilities.

Senegal places particular emphasis on maintaining genuine human control over essential functions related to target identification and engagement. According to Ibrahima Cissé, operators must be able to understand how the system works, monitor it, and shut it down when circumstances require it.
"The responsibility of states and individuals cannot be transferred to a machine," he asserted.

Through this position, Dakar is therefore calling for the legal framework for the military use of AI so that technological progress does not lead to weakening the protection of people in times of conflict.

Djamila Kambou