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As the host country, Benin stands out for its commitment. In just a few years, it has made a significant leap in the Global Cybersecurity Index, moving from 149th to 56th place worldwide, and now ranks sixth in Africa.
The fifth edition of the Cyber Africa Forum was held on June 24 and 25 in Cotonou. The central theme was the resilience of African digital ecosystems. More than a thousand participants from across the continent gathered to discuss the growing threats in cyberspace and the concrete responses needed.
The forum’s general commissioner, Franck Kié, emphasized the strategic importance of resilience. According to him, it has become a vital necessity because the continent has not always been able to anticipate risks. He states that this theme is concrete and means the need to anticipate, plan for, and prepare for the current and future shocks that Africa is facing.
As the host country, Benin stands out for its commitment. In just a few years, it has made a significant leap in the Global Cybersecurity Index, moving from 149th to 56th place worldwide, and now ranks sixth in Africa. This progress stems from a rigorous national strategy. The Director General of the National Center for Digital Investigations, Ouanilo Médégan Fagla, explained that Benin is working to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to design resilient information systems from the ground up. He stressed that resilience also involves a rapid and effective response to incidents.
The country has established an ambitious legal and operational framework. Two key policies are at the forefront: one focuses on the security of state information systems, and the other on the protection of critical information infrastructures. These frameworks include business continuity and recovery mechanisms in case of attacks or disasters.
Benin is also betting on training. The Hacker Lab, launched in 2017, identifies and trains young talents in cybersecurity. These individuals are then integrated into national operational teams. For Ouanilo Médégan Fagla, the goal is not just to identify talent but to build a solid operational force exposed to both technical and human challenges capable of supporting major digital reforms.
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Through these concrete actions, Benin aims to establish itself as a continental benchmark in cybersecurity and digital sovereignty.