By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa, Lacina Koné, has called for deeper
cooperation between Africa and the Arab world to strengthen cybersecurity
resilience and support the continent’s growing artificial intelligence
ambitions.
Speaking
at CAISEC 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Koné emphasized that cybersecurity has evolved
beyond the protection of networks and information systems to become a critical
pillar for safeguarding economies, governments, critical infrastructure, and
public trust.
Addressing
participants at the conference, he stressed the importance of proactive
preparedness in the face of increasingly complex digital threats, noting that
stronger regional and international partnerships are essential for securing the
foundations of future digital growth.
The
remarks were delivered during the opening session of the fifth Cyber and
Information Security Exhibition and Conference (CAISEC 2026), one of the
region’s leading cybersecurity gatherings, which brought together policymakers,
regulators, industry leaders, and technology experts from across Africa, the
Middle East, and beyond.
The
event featured participation from senior government officials and international
organisations, including representatives of Egypt’s defence, financial,
telecommunications, and technology sectors. Among the attendees were officials
from the Central Bank of Egypt, the Financial Regulatory Authority, the
European Telecommunications Standards Institute, the Arab Information and
Communication Technologies Organization, and the Cyber Security Authority of
Ghana.
Representatives
from major technology companies, including Dell Technologies, Cisco, Fortinet,
E-Finance, ICT Misr, and Cyshield, also participated in discussions focused on
digital resilience, cybersecurity innovation, and emerging technology
challenges.
CAISEC
2026 served as a platform for examining evolving cyber threats, strengthening
regional cooperation, and exploring strategies to secure digital infrastructure
amid growing adoption of artificial intelligence and other advanced
technologies.
