Africa is facing a growing increase in cyberattacks, which target both businesses and government institutions. Africa’s data security, economic stability and digital development are threatened by these attacks, which are often sophisticated and carried out by international criminal organizations. It is essential that governments, businesses and civil society mobilize to strengthen cybersecurity on the continent in the face of this growing threat.
And if previously, Africa was perceived as less vulnerable to cyber threats, the reality is quite different. Cybercriminals are particularly attracted by the rapid growth of the digital economy and the massive adoption of smartphones by the African population. These attacks, frequently carried out by organized and transnational groups, can cause significant repercussions, ranging from the theft of confidential data to the interruption of essential services.
The Cyber Africa Forum: a forum for a collective response
The 4th edition of the Cyber Africa Forum which took place on April 15 and 16, 2024 at the Sofitel Ivoire in Abidjan, this event in which Africa Cybersecurity Mag took part, allowed players in the technological field and political decision-makers to discuss the challenges of cybersecurity on the continent. While artificial intelligence offers new opportunities, the discussions and interventions of the experts highlighted a key concern: the imperative need to strengthen security within the African digital ecosystem.
Concrete examples illustrate the extent of the danger
The recent attack on the Grande Parfumerie Gandour site in Ivory Coast in March 2024 is striking proof of this. The disclosure of more than 280 gigabytes of data and 200,000 documents caused considerable damage to the company. The case of ENEO, the largest electricity distribution company in Cameroon, is even more serious. A computer attack last January caused the theft of data and the shutdown of the top-up service for customers. Details of the attack and methods of resolution remain confidential, but it is likely to be a ransomware attack, which aims to demand a ransom for the return of stolen data.
These examples illustrate the pressing need to strengthen cybersecurity in Africa. Governments, businesses and civil society must join forces to put in place adequate protection measures and raise awareness of cyber risks.
Africa is no less vulnerable to cyber threats than other continents, contrary to popular belief. Cybercriminals are particularly attracted by the rapid growth of the digital economy and the massive adoption of smartphones by the African population. This is what Dr Youssef Mazouz, international expert and secretary general of the African Cybersecurity Center (CAC), summarized: “Geographically limiting the cyber threat makes no sense, because on a global scale the network formed by all of our connections look like a tiny village. “.
In a quest for a solution to counter all cyber attacks, Ibrahima Kalil Konaté, Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, also underlined the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity in Africa during this forum. However, one of the foundations of cybersecurity is based on the ability of actors to have access to their data. As such, Africa is particularly vulnerable, because only 2% of the data produced by its population is hosted on the continent. This lack of data autonomy exposes African countries to increased risks of cyberattacks. This is why data control becomes a crucial issue to guarantee the digital security of the continent.
Promising initiatives for better data control
Faced with this urgent need, promising initiatives are emerging in certain African countries. In Morocco, for example, each public administration is required to store its data on servers hosted on national territory and belonging to a Moroccan entity. Dr Mazouz, international expert and secretary general of the African Cybersecurity Center (ACC), emphasizes the importance of data ownership: “We do not talk about the geographical position of a data center, but always about its owner. To limit the risk, the property must be African. » This is also the case for Niger, which is committed to strengthening its control of data.
Education, a key factor for sustainable cybersecurity
Beyond data mastery, Ms. Chanoussi emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity education. “Warning our decision-makers and gaining their support for greater security is the assurance of protecting our administrations from cyber risk,” she says.
All in all, cybersecurity is a crucial issue for Africa, which must strengthen its capacity to respond to cyber threats. Mastering data, adopting robust cybersecurity policies and raising public awareness are key elements to guarantee secure and sustainable digital development on the continent.
BOA Jules
