African leaders push for stronger cybersecurity collaboration at 3rd Africa Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Senior government officials, technology leaders, jurists, prosecutors, and international partners convened at the 3rd Africa Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence to address the rapidly evolving cybercrime landscape and reinforce collective action across the continent. The forum brought together key figures including Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo; Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo; and Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS, Special Envoy on Technology for the President of Kenya.

During the event, Ambassador Philip Thigo met with Lamin Jabbi, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of The Gambia, for bilateral discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in cybersecurity capacity building, digital infrastructure, and cross-border resilience. The dialogue underscored the growing urgency for African countries to enhance their readiness against emerging threats.

Speakers emphasised that the continent is confronting increasingly complex cyber risks, fuelled by artificial intelligence–enabled attacks and transnational criminal networks that outpace traditional response mechanisms. Participants highlighted the need to strengthen digital infrastructure, institutional capabilities, and technology proficiency across all arms of government and within the justice sector.

Ambassador Thigo noted that recent global incidents, including the AI-driven cyberattack targeting Anthropic’s systems, illustrate how rapidly threats are escalating and why African nations must work together to develop harmonised laws, robust institutions, and technology-neutral safeguards.

The forum, organised with support from the European Union, the Council of Europe, ICT&DE, and NC4, served as a platform for knowledge sharing, coordination, and actionable commitments to advance cybersecurity resilience across Africa.