By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Nearly 50 women
cybersecurity professionals from across Africa visited the African Union
Commission on September 25, 2026, as part of the 2026 Her CyberTracks Africa
programme, with discussions focusing on cybersecurity, data protection and
artificial intelligence.
The study visit was hosted
by the African Union Commission’s Infrastructure and Energy Department and
provided an opportunity for participants to engage with the African Union’s
work on strengthening digital trust and governance across the continent.
The exchange explored key
continental policy frameworks, including the African Union Convention on Cyber
Security and Personal Data Protection, also known as the Malabo Convention, the
Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the draft AU Guidelines on AI
Governance and Regulation.
The engagement connected
continental policy discussions with the practical experiences of women
cybersecurity professionals working to secure digital systems across African
Member States.
The African Union
Infrastructure and Energy Department emphasised that trusted digital systems
and skilled professionals are essential to Africa’s digital integration.
The study visit formed part
of the 2026 Her CyberTracks Africa programme, which brings together women
cybersecurity professionals from across the continent to strengthen skills,
knowledge sharing and participation in Africa’s digital security ecosystem.
Her CyberTracks Africa is
co-implemented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
