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First Sub-Regional Forum on Cybersecurity and fight against Cybercrime for members of Economic Community of Central African States

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The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cameroon (MINPOSTEL) in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), in collaboration with Interpol, UNECA, and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) organized the first sub-regional forum on cybersecurity and cybercrime on 24-27 February 2015. This event attracted around 300 participants from over 15 countries including Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic , Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Bangladesh, France, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Swaziland, UK, USA and Zambia. 

CC_0036.jpgThe sessions on the first day of the forum were centered around policies and strategies in Cybersecurity. The representatives of countries outlined the landscape and perspectives on cybersecurity in their respective states. Zambia and Cameroon shared their quick wins on the fight against cybercrime in their countries and in Africa. The second day sessions focused on e-government and critical infrastructure protection. The challenges of e-governance and PKI as part of the solution for safe data exchange were presented and discussed as well as protection of critical information infrastructures. The ITU expert performed some live demonstration on cyberattacks. ITU co-moderated a panel on National and sub-regional CIRT: Features, services and challenges, where the importance of national CIRTs was emphasized. In addition, the present ISPs talked about their challenges regarding cybercrime. The third day focused on best practices to create a culture of cybersecurity and on child online protection. Best Practices for Africa were discussed and  the ITU regional director, Mr Rugege reminded all of the Kampala meeting outcomes with a focus on COP projects in Africa. Online case studies were demonstrated by the ITU expert. 


IMG_2698.jpgThis forum preceded the meeting of ECCAS Ministers for the development of a sub-regional strategy on cyber security and the fight against cybercrime and cyberterrorism, scheduled for Friday, February 27, 2015 which concluded with the approval of a set of recommendations to enhance level of cybersecurity readiness through actions at ECCAS level and at country level including:  
    • The development by EECAS of  a sub-regional strategic and operational action plan on cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime and cyberterrorism, integrating recommendations from the first sub-regional Forum held in Yaoundé from 24 to 27 February 2015, with the assistance  of ITU and other regional and international partners.
    • ECCAS will create a sub-regional task force  which will amongst other assist member states in the implementation of their national CIRTs.
    • Countries will develop and implement their respective national policies on cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime and cyberterrorism.
    • Countries will  set up national CIRT before the end of 2015 with the assistance of ITU.
    • Countries will establish a national strategy for national critical information infrastructure protection.
    • Countries will fully join the COP initiative and related programs by developing a specific national strategy including and involving young people, children, educators, parents, the public and private institutions.

The forum has successfully met its purpose of bringing together stakeholders to conduct a reflection in order to promote a common vision of cybersecurity and strengthen strategies against cybercrime while strengthening the human resource capacity in the countries concerned. 

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More information is available on the forum’s webpage​ and  in the media as follows: