Current state of African cybersecurity
The grazers or the feelings with feelings are still relevant, but seem to be part of the past. Cyberattacks are now carried out from the African continent on states. This was the case in Ethiopia when a cyber attack against the National Agency for Ethiopian Information Systems (INSA) led by a group of Hackers Cyber Horus Group in 2020. This attack was finally countered by the authorities, but it illustrates although Africa is not immune to suffering complex attacks as the big Western countries may have been.
The vulnerability of the African system is first of all material. Indeed, physical protection, but also technical infrastructure sometimes leaves something to be desired. In 2018, a study on the level of preparation of countries against cybermenaces placed Mauritius, Kenya as well as Rwanda at the top of the study. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), in 2018, only 28 % of African countries had data protection legislation. Hence the importance of awareness of the digital hygiene of all users and companies. IT security is finally everyone's business.
Notable advances in this area
The competence and mastery of the subject of cybersecurity exist in Africa. However, a brain flight inevitably takes place. Young qualified Africans prefer to expatriate in often Western countries, where wages and living conditions are superior. However, everything remains to be done in this area in Africa. This is why specialized schools are emerging. There is one in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, named African Institute of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety (CSS Institute). The training must take place over 3 years and practice learning digital technologies as well as the acquisition of management skills.
In addition, in September 2021, the first edition of the Brazza Cybersecurity Forum took place in Brazzaville. The objective is to allow the players in the sector to discuss all the questions related to Cyber threats thanks to the various stakeholders. cybersecurity market is estimated at 2.5 billion dollars in 2020. A figure that increased by an additional $ 1 billion in 2021. Hence the interest in the various protagonists to take an interest in this market and to lead the technological transition of Africa safely.
Christelle Houeto
