Rwanda and the
United Arab Emirates have taken significant steps to enhance their
cybersecurity cooperation, following high-level discussions held during the
Global AI Summit on Africa in Kigali. David Kanamugire, CEO of Rwanda's
National Cyber Security Authority, met with His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al
Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Cyber Security Council, and His
Excellency Hazza Al Qahtani, UAE Ambassador to Rwanda, to explore collaborative
opportunities in strengthening digital defenses.
The bilateral
meeting highlighted the shared commitment of both nations to building a secure
cyberspace, with discussions focusing on strategies to bolster digital
resilience and combat emerging cyber threats. The alignment of Rwanda and UAE's
cybersecurity priorities creates a strong foundation for future cooperation in
areas such as threat intelligence sharing, capacity building, and joint
cybersecurity initiatives.
Beyond these
discussions, Kanamugire played an active role in the summit's main program,
representing Rwanda in a high-level panel titled "Data: A Strategic
Imperative for Adoption, Equity, and Sovereignty." The session brought
together key stakeholders from Smart Africa, Oracle, Certa Foundation, Wellcome
Trust, and the Government of France to examine the critical role of data
governance in Africa's digital transformation.
During the
panel, Kanamugire outlined Rwanda’s progressive approach to balancing
regulation and innovation, emphasizing the country’s tiered data classification
system. This framework ensures appropriate protection levels based on data
sensitivity while fostering an environment conducive to technological
advancement. He also stressed the importance of regulatory harmonization across
Africa to maximize the benefits of AI and enable seamless cross-border data
collaboration.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
