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The Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and Chairperson of the Africa Network of Cybersecurity Authorities (ANCA) has emphasised that by working together, the African Continent can transform current cyber threats and related challenges into opportunities and ensure that the continent thrives in this digital age.

He expressed his vision for ANCA, to build a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem for all – citizens, businesses, and governments across Africa.

This was disclosed at the 5th ANCA meeting which took place on February 3, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco.

The meeting organised under the auspices of SMART Africa was used to officially launch ANCA and to adopt its constitution, a legal framework that will govern the operations of ANCA. A comprehensive five-year strategy for ANCA was also unveiled, as part of efforts to enhance cybersecurity resilience across the continent.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chair of ANCA, General El Mostafa Rabii, said he is optimistic “that ANCA will accelerate the operationalisation of key cybersecurity functions of its members, notably the exchange of intelligence information, technical assistance, training, collaboration and coordination of cyber exercises”. He stated that Morocco has agreed and is committed to contributing to the ANCA operational activities by establishing a regional Computer Emergency Response Team in Morocco to serve ANCA members.

The CEO of Smart Africa, Mr. Lacina Koné, emphasised the importance of treating cybersecurity as a continental and global concern. “Through ANCA, we are building a strong, coordinated framework that will allow African nations to tackle cyber threats collaboratively. This is essential not only for the safety of our digital infrastructure but also for the realisation of our vision of a Single Digital Market by 2030”, he added.

ANCA is a collaborative initiative designed to bring together cybersecurity authorities from African countries to address the growing challenges posed by cyber threats and crimes. The network plays an instrumental role in coordinating cybersecurity policies, legislation, and threat management across Africa. By strengthening cooperation among African nations, ANCA seeks to counter cybercrime, foster a collective response to emerging threats, and advocate for Africa’s cybersecurity interests on the global stage.

On the sidelines of the event, the Director-General of the CSA and Chair of ANCA was awarded the African Cybersecurity Excellence Award for his leadership in driving continental cybersecurity development through ANCA. The award by Smart Africa Alliance and the Government of the Kingdom of Morroco recognised the top contributors to cybersecurity development on the continent over the past years with cybersecurity leaders across the continent being awarded. The Director-General’s award was in recognision of Ghana’s cybersecurity development as a model country and his leadership of the continental cybersecurity body, ANCA. ANCA currently has a membership of 21 countries, represented by cybersecurity authorities in these countries.