Experts Unite at Summit: 1 Goal, Secure the Cyber Architecture

A three-day workshop, organized by the African Centre for Strategic Studies and the Bureau of Cybersecurity and Digital Policy of the US Department of State, was held at the Le Méridien hotel in Pointe-aux-Piments, Mauritius, from May 21 to 23.

The event brought together high-ranking officials from regional African institutions and national computer emergency response teams (CERTs) to discuss lessons learned and formulate recommendations for strengthening the continental cybersecurity architecture of Africa, in line with the United Nations framework for responsible state behavior in the cyber domain.

The US Ambassador to Mauritius, Henri Jardine, kicked off the workshop, expressing his satisfaction with the project.

“African states present varying levels of digitalization, cyber capabilities, and expertise.

The African Union (AU) and regional economic communities play a crucial role in managing these differences to pursue the common interests of member states by advancing globally recognized standards for state behavior in the cyber domain and responding to sophisticated cyber threats emanating from state-backed actors and organized cybercrime networks.”

The workshop brought together 30 participants, including experts, representatives from major national CERTs, government officials from the US, European Union, and UK, as well as representatives from multilateral institutions such as the AU, ECOWAS, IGAD, SADC, and BOCA. The CERTs from 10 African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia, were also represented.

The US government delegation included members from the Department of State, the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Additionally, former students of the African Centre with relevant expertise participated in the workshop.

The participants discussed best practices and shared experiences in addressing cyber threats, developing national cybersecurity strategies, and enhancing cooperation between regional institutions and governments.

The event aimed to foster a stronger continental cybersecurity architecture in Africa, aligning with global norms and standards for responsible state behavior in the cyber domain.

Source: l’Express