By Michaela Bonnie in South Korea
Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bocakrie, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Training and Doctrine in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and Dr. Sidikie Yambasu, Director for Ministerial Follow-up and Strategic Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, represented Sierra Leone at the 2024 REAIM Summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain. The summit, co-organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of National Defense (MND), took place from September 9 to 10, 2024, at the Lotte Hotel and The Westin Josun in Seoul.
The REAIM Summit provided a platform for global dialogue on ensuring the responsible military application of artificial intelligence (AI). Brigadier General Bocakrie emphasized the critical role of AI in modern military operations, particularly in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). “As AI technology continues to raise ethical, transparency, and legal concerns worldwide, it is now my responsibility, as the Head of Delegation from Sierra Leone, to make strategic recommendations for our military’s adoption of AI,” Bocakrie stated.
He also highlighted the importance of early preparation and strategic planning for AI integration, noting the need for a national policy framework to guide the responsible use of AI in Sierra Leone’s military domain. “Our focus will be on assessing the Blueprint for Action from the REAIM 2024 Summit to equip government ministries, departments, and agencies with the necessary knowledge for AI implementation,” Bocakrie added.
The summit featured several roundtable discussions on AI’s impact on international security, including its influence on conflict dynamics and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Delegates explored the potential risks and benefits of AI in military applications.
During the second plenary session, participants discussed strategies for the responsible application of AI in the military domain. They focused on identifying key principles and measures to ensure ethical use and translating these principles into actionable steps. The third plenary session examined the future governance of AI, with a focus on enhancing international cooperation for responsible AI deployment in military contexts.
The summit brought together representatives from over 90 nations, including South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cho Tae-yul, and Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong Hyun. Participants shared their national perspectives on AI, addressing common concerns, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration in this rapidly evolving field.
