Smart Africa signs cybersecurity MoU with e-Crime Bureau

Smart Africa and the e-Crime Bureau formalized a strategic partnership aimed at fortifying the continent's digital defenses on November 2, 2026. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum held in Accra. This collaboration seeks to address the critical need for robust cybersecurity frameworks as Africa undergoes a rapid digital transformation, ensuring that technological progress is matched by secure and resilient infrastructure.

The partnership focuses on three primary pillars: developing a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce, improving governance frameworks, and enhancing technological infrastructure across the continent. By pooling their respective resources, Smart Africa and the e-Crime Bureau intend to train a new generation of professionals capable of defending against increasingly sophisticated digital threats. The initiative also aims to strengthen institutional frameworks, providing African nations with the policy guidance and technical standards necessary to manage cyber risks effectively at both national and regional levels.

Lacina Koné, the Director General of Smart Africa, emphasized the necessity of cross-border cooperation to secure the continent's digital future. He noted that as digital services expand across Africa, the vulnerability to cyberattacks increases, making collaborative protective measures essential. For the e-Crime Bureau, the agreement represents a significant step in expanding its global operations and applying its specialized technical expertise to a broader continental mandate.

This initiative comes at a time when African nations are increasingly integrating digital solutions into their economies and public services. By prioritizing the deployment of protective technologies and the cultivation of local expertise, the MoU aims to create a more resilient digital ecosystem. The success of this partnership is expected to provide a framework for future private-public collaborations intended to safeguard the digital sovereignty of African states against both global and domestic cyber threats.