AfIGF

In 2014, the African Union Commission (AUC) adopted the Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection in order to provide fundamental principles and guidelines, ensure the effective protection of personal data and create a safe digital environment for citizens as well as protect individuals’ online data and privacy.

However, unlike the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the African Union (AU) Convention is not automatically… Read more

There is a wave of cybersecurity and data protection regulations being introduced in a number of African countries. Some countries have already enacted these internet laws, while others are in the process of introducing the regulations.

Notably, the introduction of cybersecurity and data protection laws in these African jurisdictions has caused consternation, contestation and debate regarding the process of law enactment and the fact that some clauses or terminologies are understood to be vague. It has also been noted with trepidation that the penalties contained in these cyber… Read more

Something historic happened by the Nile earlier this month. From 4-6 November 2018, at Corinthia Hotel Khartoum by the banks of that gargantuan and historic river which traverses the African continent, stakeholders from across the continent and the world gathered to participate in the African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF).

The setting of the AfIGF by the Nile was perhaps figurative. As a colleague mentioned to me, ‘’Oh, you attended the AfIGF by that very contentious river.” By that, he was referring to plans by several nations upstream the Nile to dam it, for purposes… Read more