By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Côte d’Ivoire has
inaugurated a Cisco cybersecurity centre at Cybastion in Abidjan to strengthen
national capacities in the prevention, detection and response to cyber threats,
as the country steps up efforts to secure its digital ecosystem and develop local
technological expertise.
The Minister of Digital
Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, inaugurated the
facility alongside the opening of the American Digital Tower.
The new infrastructure is
equipped with technology and skills dedicated to monitoring digital systems and
managing cybersecurity incidents.
Speaking at the
inauguration, Mr. Ouattara stressed the strategic importance of cybersecurity
to digital sovereignty, data protection, the continuity of public services and
the resilience of the national economy.
He also highlighted efforts
to develop local skills through the Africa DigiEmpower programme, supported by
the THEYA Foundation and Cisco, which plans to train 200,000 learners in Côte
d’Ivoire in networking, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence professions
by 2030.
With a regional vocation,
the centre is also expected to contribute to strengthening cooperation and
sharing expertise with countries across West and Central Africa.
The inauguration forms part
of Côte d’Ivoire’s broader efforts to consolidate the security of its digital
ecosystem while developing the technological skills needed to support its
digital transition.
