Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- ECOWAS organized a workshop on cyber diplomacy simulation with various partners to enhance digital security.
- The workshop aimed to increase understanding of critical cyber-related issues, strengthen cyber diplomacy capabilities, and foster collaboration among ECOWAS Member States.
In a recent workshop organized by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office, the European Union, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Diplo Foundation, representatives from ECOWAS Member States’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs gathered in Accra, Ghana from June 5th to 7th, 2024, to participate in a cyber diplomacy simulation. The primary goal of the simulation workshop was to enhance understanding of critical cyber-related issues and processes that contribute to international peace and security, while also strengthening participants’ cyber diplomacy capabilities.
The event focused on thematic areas such as international law in cyberspace, norms, confidence-building measures, and capacity-building, all centered around the United Nations ‘Negotiations of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021 – 2025’. Ambassador Baba Gana Wakil, representing the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, emphasized the importance of cyber diplomacy in today’s interconnected world, highlighting the need for collaboration among ECOWAS Member States to protect against cyber threats.
Sivine Jansen, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, underscored the significance of diplomats’ negotiating skills and knowledge of cybersecurity issues in addressing complex cybersecurity challenges. The workshop aimed to empower diplomats to shape the emerging regional cybersecurity agenda and play a significant role in global cybersecurity discussions. The participants were encouraged to become multipliers of cyber diplomacy, sharing knowledge with national and regional counterparts, and working together to enhance cyber capabilities in West Africa.
Overall, the workshop concluded with a united effort among participants to address cybersecurity challenges, paving the way for a more secure and interconnected ECOWAS region. The Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security in West Africa will continue to focus on building regional cyber diplomacy, combatting cybercrime, ensuring data sovereignty, and protecting critical infrastructure.
