Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS and its partners are taking steps to boost cybersecurity in West Africa. They launched the Joint Platform for the Advancement of Cybersecurity in West Africa on September 12, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria.
This initiative was started by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with Germany’s G7 Presidency in 2022. This three-day event marks the official beginning of implementing the ECOWAS Action Plan, aimed at enhancing regional cybersecurity resilience and capacity.
The initial actions from the plan will focus on:
1. Developing and implementing trust-building measures in cybersecurity regionally
2. Strengthening cooperation and cyber capabilities at the regional level.
3. Enhancing skills and establishing regional cyber-diplomacy mechanisms.
Sediko Douka, the Commissioner responsible for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitization at the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in protecting economies, infrastructure, and people in West Africa. He emphasized that its not just a technical issue but a matter of national security, economic stability, and safeguarding privacy and rights. Various speakers, including diplomats and experts, addressed the ceremony, emphasizing the significance of this cybersecurity initiative.
The ECOWAS action plan for 2022-2025 focuses on four key areas:
1. Developing cyber-diplomacy mechanisms and skills
2. Strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure.
3. Safeguarding vulnerable groups from cybersecurity threats, including cybercrime and terrorism,
4. Combating cybercrime and ensuring data sovereignty.
This plan guides the ECOWAS Commission in collaborating with global, regional, and national partners to enhance cybersecurity through capacity-building initiatives.
Simha Asuquo contributes from Lagos, Nigeria
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