Signal 29 Global South nations sign founding agreement for World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO)

Summary

Twenty-nine countries across Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa, including Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Senegal, reportedly signed a founding agreement establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization at the Shanghai World AI Conference. The move is described as a Global South-led effort to step away from Western, G7-centered AI governance frameworks and to build independent AI technology policy, norms and technological sovereignty among emerging economies. Separately, one outlet examined how the newly launched UN AI for Good Global Commission affects Africa's digital transformation and AI governance, arguing it should align with the African Union's AI strategy. The WAICO signing was initially confirmed only through a single aggregator report, leaving it under a verification hold. Two independent mainstream sources have since corroborated that original report.