With the acceleration of digital transformation across Africa, cybersecurity has become a major concern, with increasingly targeted attacks. The issue pushes governments to streamline their digital defense strategies. 

Last December 14, the Chadian Ministry of Telecommunications and the National Agency for Computer Security and eCertification (ANSICE) launched a workshop for the development of a national cybersecurity strategy. 

The cybersecurity strategy to be developed during the workshop -organized in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)- aims to find ways to better fight cyber threats. "It is important to assess the cybersecurity challenges to define and prioritize the responses to implement in a strategy capable of enhancing the cybersecurity of every institution,” said Digital Minister Mahamat Allahou Taher.

In recent days, Chad has accelerated its efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity. On December 5, two bills were passed to strengthen the country's cybersecurity framework. The first bill ratifies Ordinance No. 007/PCMT/2022 of August 31, 2022, on cybercrime and cyber defense, while the second ratified Ordinance No. 008/PCMT/2022 of August 31, 2022, on cybersecurity.

To strengthen its legal framework, the government decided to quicken the elaboration of the cybersecurity strategy, which was not really advancing.  In 2019, during a meeting with participants from 32 national and regional institutions, it was already decided that the elaboration of the national cybersecurity strategy would be accelerated. In February, the country also hosted cybersecurity experts from various countries and the sub-region to discuss issues related to assessment methodology, strategic cybersecurity policy, online commerce, banking, legal and regulatory framework, and technology standards.

Samira Njoya