COUNTRY STATEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO AT THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL DIALOGUE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOVERNANCE DELIVERED BY THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN PALEXPO INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTRE, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — 6–7 July 2026

Mr President, Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to address the first United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance on behalf of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Lesotho aligns itself with the statements of the Group of 77 and China, and the Africa Group, and adds these observations.

Lesotho welcomes this Dialogue as an opportunity to ensure that Artificial Intelligence serves all countries and peoples.

We also welcome the preliminary report of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI as timely and important. It grounds AI governance in evidence and confirms that policy choices will determine whether AI deepens exclusion or supports inclusive development.

For small states, the central question is how countries build the capacity, data systems, institutions and infrastructure required to participate meaningfully. Lesotho’s Artificial Intelligence Policy of 2025 is generally aligned with this direction, especially on capacity-building, AI-ready data, openness, human oversight and inclusive development.

Mr President, Lesotho advances four priorities.

First, capacity-building. Without skills and institutions, countries cannot regulate AI, adopt it safely, or negotiate global rules from an informed position.

Second, openness. Open-source software, open data, open standards and open models reduce dependency, lower cost, and allow local adaptation.

Third, interoperability and digital infrastructure. Responsible public-sector AI depends on digital identity, electronic services, data exchange and cybersecurity.

Fourth, sector-led, risk-based governance through existing regulators. Where AI affects rights and public services, there must be human oversight and redress.

Lesotho also proposes a Framework for AI-Ready Unstructured and Fragmented Data. Many African countries do not lack data; they lack data ready for AI. Global governance must help convert public-sector data into safe and locally relevant resources.

In conclusion, Lesotho calls for AI governance that is practical, inclusive and development-oriented, built around capacity, openness, trusted data and human oversight.

I thank you.