By SKS
At the recent Cape Town conference, Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) highlighted the critical importance of regional cooperation in addressing the escalating cyber threats facing Africa. He urged fellow African leaders to prioritize the strengthening of cybersecurity frameworks and foster collaborative efforts to combat the rising tide of cybercrime across the continent.
Speaking at the ongoing 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, IGP Sellu emphasized the critical need for stronger collaboration both within the continent and with international partners.
During his address on Tuesday, IGP Sellu highlighted the significance of the ECOWAS Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Strategy, launched in January 2021, as a vital framework for member states to develop their own national policies.
He outlined five key strategic goals of the regional plan: establishing national cybersecurity strategies; enhancing digital security and protecting critical infrastructure; updating legal frameworks to combat cybercrime effectively; fostering regional cooperation through international convention ratification and a cybersecurity culture; and creating regional mechanisms such as assistance programs, monitoring systems, and a dedicated Cybersecurity Coordination Centre.
Despite these initiatives, Sellu acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by West African countries, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled cybersecurity personnel, weak enforcement mechanisms, and the transnational nature of cyber threats.
IGP Sellu also pointed out that public awareness about online risks remains low, and many nations have yet to implement comprehensive data protection and privacy laws.
“Cyber threats do not recognize borders,” IGP Sellu warned. “Our response must be strategic, inclusive, and collaborative. With sustained political commitment, regional solidarity, and global cooperation, we can build a resilient and secure digital future for our continent.”
Several West African nations, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria, have already enacted national cybercrime legislation aligned with ECOWAS protocols. However, IGP Sellu stressed that continuous capacity-building, resource sharing, and joint enforcement efforts are essential to counter the rapidly evolving digital threats.
The three-day conference, running from August 27 to 29 in Cape Town, has gathered police chiefs, security experts, and international partners from across Africa to address urgent security issues, with cybercrime taking center stage.
