Workshop for AU Member States on Cyber-Strategy, Cyber-Legislation and Setting up CERTs aiming at providing African Experts with the appropriate Cybersecurity knowledge to prepare and adopt National Cybersecurity Strategies and Cyber legislations as well as the requirements for setting up and managing National Computer Emergency Incident/ Response Team (CERT/CIRT kicks off at the AUC Headquarters

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23 July 2018: The workshop on Cyber strategies, Cyber legislation and Setting up National CERTs started today 23rd July 2018. It brings together one hundred thirty (130) Experts and government officials from forty (40) African Countries including policy makers, Legislators and technical experts involved in Cyber security policy and strategies, Cyber legislation and building CERTs as well as representatives from Regionals Economic Communities (RECs) and international specialised organisations and partners dealing with cyber security.

The Capacity Building workshop organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the US Department of State and Internet Society aims at promoting Cybersecurity culture to enhance confidence in the use of ICTs & Internet within African countries. It will mainly address the development of the international cooperation for a stable and secured global digital space with the focus on building the human and institutional capacity.

The overall objective of this workshop is to sensitize AU Member States on the opportunities and threats of the new digital world and highlight their impact on national security , economy and social wellbeing of the their citizens and provide them with appropriate knowledge to acquire a deeper understanding of the most important areas and foundations of cyber Law, governance, technical and financial resources as well as the operational details of the essential blocs of a national strategy on Cyber Security

This Workshop will cover issues related to the definition of priorities, principles, and approaches needed to develop an effective strategy on Cyber security, management of Cyber risks, identification of challenges of adopting cyber laws and adapting the exiting legal and institutional frameworks to the reality of the digital environment within African countries as well as strengthening the technical capabilities to adequately monitor and defend national networks against the emerging Cyber incidents.

Addressing the opening ceremony on behalf of the of the Commissioner Infrastructure and Energy H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Mr Cheikh Bedda ,Director of Infrastructure and Energy, underlined the importance of the workshop since digital technologies and Internet are the backbone of our society and economies today.

He further pointed out that the topic of this workshop is very relevant for Africa. As Cybersecurity has come to the forefront of the international diplomatic and political agenda with daily reported news related to cyber incidents, data protection breaches as well as the use of Internet for promoting transnational crime and violent extremism. “From the AUC’s perspective, a resilient and safe cyberspace depends on the successful implementation and execution of a holistic cybersecurity strategy, including the development of a vibrant ecosystem with strong legislative frameworks and technical know-how that gives an oversight over securing networks and protecting critical infrastructure” Mr. Cheikh Bedda

Vish On her part, the US representative Mrs Elizabeth Vish noted that the United States has increasingly engaged in a series of regional and international Cyber policy discussions and cyber capacity initiatives across the continent. She also highlighted that we are now living in the world of substantial interconnection and many countries around the world - including from Africa - have recognized that cybersecurity is a national security issue. This workshop is part of a series of capacity building workshops that the US State Department is organising in collaboration with the African Union Commission to develop the capacity of African countries and enhance regional and international cooperation to fight malicious activities in cyberspace.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Media inquiry Contacts:
Sophia Nesri | PIDA Information Analyst | Department of Infrastructure and Energy | African Union Commission I E-mail: sophian@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Esther Azaa Tankou / Head of Information Division / AUC / Tel: +251 911361185 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org