By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Senior government officials,
executives and cybersecurity experts from across Africa have gathered in Rabat,
Morocco, for the African Network of Cybersecurity Authorities (ANCA) Executive
Leadership Program in Cybersecurity, a high-level initiative aimed at
strengthening cyber resilience and digital security leadership across the
continent.
The programme is being
co-organised by the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) in collaboration with
ANCA and is hosted in partnership with Morocco’s Directorate General for
Information Systems Security (DGSSI).
The five-day event brings
together decision-makers and cybersecurity professionals to address the growing
importance of cybersecurity in Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
Participants are engaging in discussions focused on cyber governance, digital
resilience, artificial intelligence risks, cyber crisis management and regional
cooperation frameworks.
A major highlight of the
opening session was the inauguration of the ANCA Computer Emergency Response
Team (ANCA-CERT), a significant milestone in the development of Africa’s
collective cybersecurity architecture. The new platform is expected to enhance collaboration
among African cybersecurity authorities and strengthen the continent’s ability
to detect, respond to and mitigate cyber threats.
Organisers emphasised that
cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a leadership responsibility that
requires strategic oversight at the highest levels of government and industry.
The programme is designed to equip leaders with the knowledge and skills needed
to address evolving cyber risks while supporting secure digital transformation
across Africa.
The training will conclude
with a live cyber crisis simulation exercise, providing participants with
practical experience in managing large-scale cyber incidents and coordinating
responses across institutions and national borders.
The initiative forms part of
broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s cybersecurity ecosystem and promote
greater cooperation among countries as digital technologies continue to play a
central role in economic growth, governance and public service delivery across
the continent.
