IndabaX South Sudan 2025: Igniting the Future of AI in South Sudan
- Poni Henry
- Jul 29
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
The first-ever IndabaX South Sudan, held in Juba South Sudan at Scenius Hub on Saturday, 19th July, 2025, marked a historic moment in the country’s journey toward technological advancement. As part of the continental Deep Learning Indaba movement, the event brought together AI researchers, students, developers, entrepreneurs, AI enthusiasts and educators to explore the power of artificial intelligence in solving local challenges and shaping South Sudan’s digital future.
The day featured a rich lineup of expert-led sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and youth showcases that highlighted the transformative potential of AI across language, education, finance, health, and agriculture.
Language, Culture, and Inclusion through NLP
Keynote Highlight: Dr. Isaac Gang on Natural Language Processing and Language Inclusion in AI
Dr. Isaac K. Gang, a key figure behind the integration of South Sudanese languages into Google Translate, delivered a deeply engaging keynote on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and the long journey of linguistic data collection. His talk emphasized both the technical and cultural significance of AI-driven language inclusion.
Dr. Gang began by defining NLP as a powerful technology that allows computers to process and understand human languages like Dinka, Nuer, Arabic, and others despite machines not “thinking” or “reasoning” like humans.
The highlight of his session was a detailed walkthrough of the five-year process his team undertook to get Nuer, Dinka, and Acholi languages integrated into Google Translate. The journey involved:
Manual data collection in early stages.
Use of collaborative online tools like tatoeba, a public language database that enabled native speakers to contribute translated sentences.
Web scraping from online texts, especially local Bibles and religious resources like Hymnals, to expand the dataset.
Mapping one-to-one sentence translations, a strict requirement for Google’s machine learning model.
Despite these efforts, Dr. Gang shared the difficulty of acquiring sufficient volumes of usable data even with thousands of translated sentences, more was needed. The breakthrough came when they used machine learning scripts to automate large-scale data collection, enabling the inclusion of three South Sudanese languages in Google Translate in 2023 a historic achievement, given the platform had only integrated about 100 languages over the previous decade.
He demonstrated the Tatoeba language database live, showing how languages are added and explained how each sentence contributes to training the translation model. For Nuer, for example, over 2,600 sentences were available a massive step, yet still below the ideal threshold for robust translation.
Looking ahead, Dr. Gang announced plans to integrate 10–20 more South Sudanese languages using the same process, and issued a strong call for volunteers, students, linguists, and community members to contribute to this national project. “The more volunteers we have, the better,” he emphasized.
He also addressed key concerns, such as:
Translation accuracy, especially in cases where dialects vary or words have multiple meanings.
The need for audio integration to support non-literate users, with plans to include speech components in future models.
Community-level training centers at the Payam or Boma level to ensure grassroots access to and understanding of AI tools.
The long-term vision of enabling people to speak to AI models (e.g., Gemini, Google Assistant) in their own languages, opening up unprecedented access for rural and marginalized communities.
Dr. Gang concluded with a passionate reflection on education, inclusion, and national pride:
“If we can successfully translate all of our 64 languages into Google Translate, we will not only preserve our heritage, we will open the doors of AI to everyone in South Sudan.”
Watch his full session recording through this link:
Building the Future: Dr. Felix Gonda on Universities and the AI Ecosystem in South Sudan
In one of the most forward-thinking sessions at IndabaX South Sudan 2025, Dr. Felix Gonda addressed the critical role of universities in establishing a thriving AI ecosystem in the country. With clarity and urgency, he laid out a roadmap for how South Sudanese higher education can adapt and lead in the age of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Gonda began by acknowledging a simple but powerful truth: AI is already here, and students are using it, whether educators like it or not. From research assistance to content generation, tools like ChatGPT are now part of the academic toolkit. Rather than resisting this change, he urged universities to embrace AI, weaving it into curricula, pedagogy, and institutional strategy.
He emphasized that the AI revolution is also an opportunity; a chance for universities to become launchpads for innovation and inclusive development. His session was built around four key pillars:
Faculty and Institutional Capacity, Dr. Gonda stressed the importance of training educators and building in-house AI knowledge. “We need to start with ourselves,” he said, urging faculty to undergo training so they can confidently teach and guide students in this new landscape.
Research and Local Datasets, Without local data, AI solutions remain disconnected from reality. Dr. Gonda called for collaborative efforts to generate, annotate, and secure datasets relevant to South Sudan, especially in sectors like agriculture, education, health, and governance.
Partnerships and Funding: To bridge the resource gap, he proposed multisector partnerships with government, private sector, and international organizations to fund research and deploy practical solutions. Central to this was his bold proposal for an AI Innovation Fund to support student- and faculty-led AI ventures.
Student Empowerment and Innovation: Dr. Gonda championed the idea of AI incubators and innovation hubs within universities where students can experiment, collaborate, and launch startups. He emphasized the need to incentivize creativity, especially for students solving community-level challenges with AI.
“It is not enough to just talk about technology, we must build an ecosystem that works for us, that supports our young people, and that reflects our own priorities.”
Drawing on regional examples, he showed how neighboring countries have embedded AI into national development plans and how South Sudan can learn from these models while forging its own path.
A particularly strong point in his presentation was the emphasis that South Sudan must not rely solely on external platforms and tools. Instead, the country should aim to develop its own AI tools, tailored to local languages, cultural contexts, and development needs.
Dr. Gonda concluded with a message:
“We are seeing a lot of young people using AI tools. That means we in the academic space must prepare and be ready. It’s our responsibility.”
Watch the full recording on YouTube through this link:
AI in Fintech: Unlocking Financial Inclusion
Mr. David Marko delivered an insightful session on AI in Fintech, exploring how intelligent systems can address some of South Sudan’s most pressing financial challenges. With the country’s financial services sector evolving, he highlighted the role of AI in:
Fraud detection and mobile money security.
Alternative credit scoring for the unbanked.
Chatbots for customer support and financial literacy.
Predictive analytics for behavior and risk management.
He underscored the importance of data availability and ethical use, advocating for collaboration among banks, startups, telecoms, and regulators. Eng. Marko called on local developers and researchers to co-create fintech solutions grounded in local realities, affirming that AI in finance is a present opportunity and not in the distant future.
Hands-On Learning with Machine Learning and Computer Vision
In an engaging workshop, Morris Mel introduced participants to computer vision, demonstrating how machines interpret visual data through image classification and object detection. The session offered a practical introduction to machine learning, guiding attendees through model building and emphasizing the use of accessible tools for real-world problem solving. It left many participants energized to continue experimenting and learning.
Hackathon Showcase: Youth-Led AI for Social Good
In the weeks leading up to the event, IndabaX South Sudan hosted a two-week virtual AI Hackathon on Kaggle, focusing on solving real-world problems through machine learning.
A total of
Participants worked on two key tracks:
Beginner Track: Predictive models for disease detection and public health surveillance.
Intermediate Track: AI tools for weather forecasting and disaster preparedness, vital for agriculture and rural planning.
Top teams that had built compelling solutions showcased their solutions during the event.
Projects were judged on innovation, relevance, and impact, with support from mentors throughout. The hackathon was a clear display of the talent and creativity of South Sudan’s emerging tech community.
The Top Winning Individuals and Teams included:
Most outstanding Female Coder- Awarded to Awut Dut Paul for demonstrating exceptional coding talent, problem-solving skills, and technical excellence throughout the hackathon.
Most outstanding Coder - Awarded to Ramkel Gabriel Joshua for demonstrating exceptional coding talent, problem-solving skills, and technical excellence throughout the hackathon.
Most Innovative solution - Awarded to 404 Not Found in recognition of their creative and forward-thinking approach. Their solution demonstrated exceptional originality and the potential to inspire meaningful change through innovation.
Best Overall Solution - Awarded to DREAMERS for creating the most innovative, impactful, and well-executed solution in the hackathon. Their work stood out for its excellence in problem-solving, design, and implementation.
AI Hackathon Testimonials – IndabaX South Sudan 2025
“Participating in this hackathon was an unforgettable experience! From the energy of the opening ceremony to the late-night coding sprints and final demos, everything was incredibly well organized. The mentors were super helpful, and the community vibe made it easy to connect and collaborate. I left not only with a project I’m proud of but with new friends, skills, and inspiration to keep building. I can’t wait for the next one!”
“Taking part in the IndabaX South Sudan 2025 AI Hackathon was an amazing experience. It was exciting to see young people using AI to tackle real issues and there's so much potential here. For future hackathons, I think it would be great to include real local data from South Sudan, so teams can work on challenges that truly reflect what our communities are facing, especially in areas like agriculture, security, and health. Also, the best teams should be encouraged to keep building on their ideas even after the hackathon ends. With the right support, some of these projects could grow into real solutions that make a difference. Big thanks to the organizers for creating this platform—it really shows what’s possible when talent meets opportunity.”
Showcasing Innovation: Exhibitions and Demos
Throughout the day, an exhibition space featured projects from local startups, students, and innovators. Notable exhibitors included:
STEMpower Robotics Team – https://www.facebook.com/STEMpowerSouthSudan
Showcasing robotics for agriculture and problem-solving.
CropGuard –
CropGuard is an innovative machine learning (ML) solution designed to revolutionize how farmers protect their fields. The system uses an ML model to accurately detect the presence of birds on the farm and then triggers a frequency-emitting device that safely drives the birds away without causing them any physical harm.
Smart Cassava –
An AI Powered-Mobile Solution for Cassava Leaf Diagnosis, Severity Analysis, and Farmer Recommendation Support
JunubAI – https://www.junubai.com/
JunubAI is a South Sudanese AI platform that helps businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to bring their ideas or businesses online without the hassle of writing or learning how to code.
These exhibitions offered a glimpse into how AI is already being used and imagined for real-world applications in South Sudan.
Conclusion: A Turning Point for AI in South Sudan
IndabaX South Sudan 2025 was a declaration of intent. Through groundbreaking talks, youth-led innovation, and practical learning, it showcased the untapped potential of AI in solving South Sudan’s most urgent challenges.
As Dr. Gang, Dr. Gonda, and Eng. Marko made clear, the future of AI in South Sudan should not be imported it should be locally built, community-driven, and culturally rooted.
IndabaX South Sudan 2025 – Event Feedback & Testimonials
“We may have been left behind, but we are now picking up pace boldly stepping into the world of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.”
Chris Bamuom Gai, a Public Health graduate, shared:
“Attending IndabaX South Sudan 2025 was an eye-opening experience. It inspired a renewed sense of purpose and possibility, especially for those of us in fields like public health. The sessions were impactful, the discussions timely, and the energy in the room made it clear that South Sudan is ready to be part of the global AI conversation. As a public health graduate, I see the incredible potential that AI and ML hold in transforming healthcare, data analysis, and decision-making in our country. This event didn’t just expose us to global trends it reminded us that we, too, can be creators and contributors in this space. ”
David Kuol reflected:
“I had a great experience and a big shout-out to Poni and her team. I can’t wait for the next chapter from you all.”
Juma Enock added:
"The AI Summit was an eye-opening experience that showed me the vast potential of artificial intelligence in transforming South Sudan. I left the event inspired, connected, and ready to start exploring AI-driven solutions to our community’s challenges. Events like this are exactly what we need to build an inclusive, tech-savvy future.”
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