E-Business
Analyst Picks Holes in Proposed AU Cybersecurity Convention
A proposed African Union (AU) convention seeking to step up the fight against cybercrime across Africa has critics up in arms over its potential to curb internet freedoms, according report by ITWeb Africa.
The African Union Convention on Cyber Security (AUCC), awaiting voting on in January 2014, proposes “establishing a credible framework for cyber security in Africa through organisation of electronic transactions, protection of personal data , promotion of cyber security, e-governance and combating cybercrime.”
The AU is, apparently, seeking to establish the convention because of what it says are African states’ “dire need of innovative criminal policy strategies that embody states, societal and technical responses to create a credible legal climate for cyber security.”
The move to introduce the convention comes as cyber crime levels in Africa are growing.
It could be recalled that the Norton Cybercrime Report for 2012, the likes of South Africa hosts the third-highest number of cyber crime victims in the world, behind only Russia and China.
In addition, the South African Cyber Threat Barometer 2012/13 put the total direct losses to cybercrime in South Africa between January 2011 and August 2012 at R2.65 billion.
But Kenyan based Strathmore University’s Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) has hit out at the proposed AU cyber security convention and called for the convention not to go ahead in its current form.
The centre says the convention, if adopted as is, could abuse Africans’ right to privacy, harm freedom of expression, introduce legislative overkill and place too much power in the hands of judges.
A draft version of the convention allows judges, in the “public interest”, to call for the interception of individuals’ electronic communications without permission from these individuals.
“Our first concern is the omission to the right to privacy,” Rene Enoakpar of Strathmore University’s CIPIT told ITWeb Africa.
“The issue of public interest is complex because it has no unified meaning,” he said.
Enoakpar explained to ITWeb Africa that regulatory agencies in Africa could have varied interpretations of what is in the public interest.
He also said that these interpretations could reflect interests of political actors, especially governments, which in turn makes this provision problematic.
Furthermore, the ability to interfere with traffic data without permission could risk freedom of expression on the continent as well.
“With this provision, we think the right to freedom of expression will be seriously curtailed,” Enoakpar said.
Other aspects of the convention introduce what Enoakpar said is “legislative overkill.”
Enoakpar said the bill wants increased focus on crimes committed with online resources or computers. But he said this provision could make it possible for aggravation in situations where, for example, a criminal robs a bank after sending an email.
Other concerns regarding ‘legislative overkill’ include parts of the convention that want corporate bodies to be held responsible for offences that individuals commit using the corporations’ technology.
The convention also wants service providers to conduct vulnerability testing for their technologies: a requirement that could hold back e-commerce on the continent, Enoakpar said.
As a last concern, Enoakpar said the convention “grants absolute power to judges.”
Enoakpar added that judges on the continent are not adequately trained to deal with cybercrime and cyber security, making this absolute power even more problematic.
In a bid to stop the convention then from being adopted in its current form, the Strathmore’s CIPIT has started a campaign to oppose the ratification of it by the AU.
The centre has petitioned Kenya’s parliament through an open letter regarding the convention. The petition is sponsored and endorsed by the likes of search giant Google and technology innovation centres iLabAfrica and Nairobi’s iHub.
“We call attention to the fact that the context within which it is being passed will make the convention unfeasible,” Enoakpar told ITWeb Africa.
“We think that there is need for substantive revision,” Enoakpar said.
However, while the CIPIT and its supporters are looking to stop the AU cyber security convention from being adopted in its current form, the organisation does nevertheless want an Africa focused convention on cyber security.
African countries such as South Africa are looking to implement data privacy laws such as the Protection of Personal Information (POPI). But for those countries that do not have such endeavours as yet, there is a need for a guiding framework such as an AU cyber security convention, Enoakpar told ITWeb Africa.
But that framework cannot jeopardise civil liberties, contain legislative overkill or hand over too much power to judges, Enoakpar said.
“The nature of cybercrime is transnational, and that notwithstanding I know many African countries do not have an effective legislation on cybercrimes.”
“A good starting point would be for the African Union (AU) to come up with a model law on cybercrime,” said Enoakpar.
Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and clean up the nation’s cyberspace.
Recognizing that cybercrime knows no borders, Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering stronger global partnerships within the cybersecurity ecosystem.
This announcement was made during a press conference before the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from July 9th to 11th, 2025.
Sa’ad Abubakar, national cybersecurity coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, said fighting cybercrime must take the whole of society and the whole of the government approach.
According to him, “Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country.”
Similarly, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA, also stressed the need for collaborative efforts in fighting cybercrimes.
According to him “Then, in addition to that, we also want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because when you look at cybercrime in general, it doesn’t respect the borders.
“Someone can commit a crime from Ghana using a Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction.
“So without that kind of synergy and working together, it will be difficult to address these challenges. The third one is challenge. The third one is getting an alternative to cybercrime for our kids in Nigeria. We have this as a major challenge.”
Inuwa further highlighted the upcoming conference’s importance, noting that it would tackle key issues through workshops, discussions on emerging threats, cross-border cybersecurity collaboration strategies, and training programmes.
He also announced that the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 would feature the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, recognising top contributions in the field.
The DG extended an invitation to global partners to collaborate with Nigeria in building a safer digital future.
The press conference was attended by notable figures, including Ahmad Sa’ad Abubakar, National Coordinator of, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC); Hanniel Jafar, Representative of the President, of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN); Ankit Shukla, Managing Director, QNA Marketing Management LLC and members of the press and other stakeholders.
XIAN Telecom has acquired an 8% stake in pan-African e-commerce company Jumia Technologies, citing the platform’s fintech and logistics strengths as key drivers of its backing.
This marks the first major telecom investment in Jumia since MTN Group’s exit in 2020.
AXIAN, a fast-growing telecom and digital services provider with operations across Africa, disclosed the purchase in a Schedule 13D filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
While the financial terms were not disclosed, AXIAN Telecom CEO, Hassan Jaber, described the move as a strategic alignment with Jumia’s growth trajectory and digital ecosystem.
“Jumia’s achievements in digital retail and fintech, particularly through JumiaPay and its logistics network, make it a very attractive investment for us. We believe in Jumia’s potential to promote financial and economic inclusion, which aligns with our core values,” said Jaber.
Once dubbed the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia became the first African-founded tech company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.
But years of underperformance, leadership changes, and competitive pressures dented investor confidence.
In October 2020, South Africa’s MTN Group offloaded its 18.9% stake for $138 million, well below the $698 million value it once held post-IPO.
Since then, Jumia has undergone a significant transformation. Under CEO Francis Dufay, appointed in 2022, the company exited low-performing markets like South Africa and Tunisia, cut costs, and doubled down on core markets – Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.
The firm is now focused on high-growth verticals, including everyday essentials and digital financial services.
Jumia’s regional CEO for East Africa, Vinod Goel, recently revealed plans to scale up international brand offerings and open its logistics network to third-party businesses.
Jaber underscored that AXIAN Telecom’s investment signals renewed confidence in Jumia’s long-term potential.
The telecom firm’s CEO said the company views Jumia as a key player in advancing Africa’s digital economy, aligning with AXIAN’s mission through its fintech and digital infrastructure brands such as Yas and Mixx by Yas.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general, National Identity management commission (NIMC) has said that the commission is set to register 95 percent of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before December 2025.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote,, DG, NIMC
She made this statement at a press briefing to highlight the commissions goal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on digital governance and inclusive development.
The mass enrollment drive will be powered by a combination of improved infrastructure, expanded registration centres, and robust public sensitization campaigns.
As of May 2025, NIMC reports over 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled, and about 100 million more would be captured by December.
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