Africa must work together to fight cybercrime – Rwanda ICT Minister

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace as the digital revolution and the increased interconnectedness of societies bring new challenges and data breaches.

As the world goes online, so do criminals. Therefore, a harmonized and coordinated approach is needed to tackle the scourge of cybersecurity threats.

These were sentiments shared by Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire during her keynote address at Cybertech Africa held at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda this week.

"In the last two years, reports say that cybersecurity breaches have increased significantly, and Africa is not immune to this," Ingabire said.

"We also cannot underestimate the prevalence of online threats targeting children, instances of cyberbullying, child exploitation and exposure to harmful content which have surged in recent years making it our collective responsibility to protect the wellbeing of our children," the minister continued.

In an effort to adopt a secure digital environment for its citizens, Ingabire highlighted the country's efforts to combat cyberthreats and crimes.

"The importance of a reliable digital ecosystem cannot be overstated as it is the foundation on which sustainable economies are built," she said.

Fostering African collaboration

Ingabire added that she was encouraged by the fact that a lot of African countries have put data protection laws in place demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding their citizens' digital rights.

"It is crucial for Africa to come together to share experiences and foster a collaborative approach to cyber governance," she said.

"We share a collective vision of a sustainable digital future for Africa, and the vision cannot be realised without prioritising cybersecurity and data protection," Ingabire concluded.

Smart Africa Director General and Chief Executive Officer Lacina Koné reiterated Ingabire's point that collaboration is key in combating cybercrimes in Africa.

Smart Africa Director General and Chief Executive Officer Lacina Koné. (Cybertech Africa)

Furthermore, he said he believes cybersecurity laws and regulations need to be harmonized, which can only be possible if the cybersecurity gap is closed.

The Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif added that events like Cybertech Africa help in fostering collaboration between African countries.

*Top image is of Rwanda ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire. (Source: Cybertech Africa).

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa