Increasingly the private sector, individuals and African governments rely
on the Internet to conduct sensitive transactions and store important data.
African states are lagging behind in strengthening cybersecurity and fighting cybercrime. Cyber criminals have recognised this vulnerability and are targeting the continent. After a lengthy process, the African Union (AU) recently responded to the surge in cybercrime by adopting the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. Stakeholders have raised several concerns about the convention, including that it is too broad in scope. African states should focus on the convention’s cybersecurity and
cybercrime provisions. It is unrealistic to expect states to implement the entire convention in a timely manner. Additionally, African states must embrace capacity-building efforts and join international cybercrime agreements that reach beyond the African continent. These steps will have the most immediate effect in curbing the growth of cybercrime in Africa and worldwide.
