Rabat - The African Cybersecurity Forum, a melting pot of academics, government officials, and industry executives, opened in Rabat on Monday to discuss digital security concerns from every corner of the continent. 

Held under the theme "Artificial Intelligence and Trusted Cloud: A Pillar for Strengthening Cybersecurity," the forum continues through to February 5.

The event gathers Moroccan and international specialists, high-ranking officials, representatives of Arab and African cyber security agencies, company executives, and academic scholars. 

It is organized by the General Directorate of Information Systems Security (DGSSI), which falls under the national defense administration.

Present during the opening ceremony, held in partnership with Smart Africa, was Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch alongside Minister of Youth Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid.

The Minister Delegate for National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi also attended, along with Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa, and Minister Delegate for Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni.

The forum focuses on key challenges affecting cybersecurity in Africa, from industrial operations to mega international events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Discussions will dwell on digital resilience, cybersecurity transformation, and protection of critical industries, especially oil and gas.

The workshops will cover AI-driven threat detection, predictive analytics, and security automation in DevSecOps. 

Risk management strategies will also come to the floor in light of proactive responses required by increasing cyber threats.

Morocco’s Vision for Cybersecurity Cooperation  

During the opening session, Minister Loudiyi gave remarks on Morocco's commitment to increasing African cyber cooperation, signaling that the country remains at the forefront of developing partnerships that help boost digital security across the continent.

“Under the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco sees Africa’s progress as tied to solidarity and cooperation, with South-South partnerships as a priority,” said Loudiyi.  

He mentioned many Moroccan-led efforts, including the Atlantic Initiative for Sahel nations, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, and the new Dakhla Atlantic Port. 

These programs, the minister said, represent Morocco's larger objective of seeking partnership, not only in economic growth but in digital security as well.

Loudiyi commended the individual efforts of Arab and African countries in the area of cybersecurity, especially in building infrastructures capable of winning the virtual war against digital attacks.

As Africa’s digital infrastructure is experiencing a rise in cyber-attacks, Loudyi called for greater continental collaboration towards prevention.

"This cooperation lays the foundation for a resilient digital environment and supports governments in their digital transformation," he said. 

Minister Seghrouchni also spoke at the forum, referring to the country's progress regarding AI and cybersecurity. 

She said that what is needed now is a new generation of professionals able to master a range of interdisciplinary skills to promote a secure and trustworthy digital transition. 

"Investments in AI and IoTs are needed in order to reinforce cybersecurity systems," Seghrouchni noted. 

Throughout her speech, she called for greater pan-African collaboration in the field of cybersecurity, placing Morocco among the leaders in the continent's digital transformation.

Seghrouchni concluded by asserting that cybersecurity should be given priority, stating that "AI is a powerful lever to shape the future and to guarantee security for digital systems." 

With active discussions and collaboration, the African Cybersecurity Forum proves a vital opportunity for African collaboration towards securing its digital future, with Morocco at the helm of this endeavor. 

In September 2024, Morocco was rated among the top five in the Arab world in the GCI with a cybersecurity score that jumped from 82.4% in 2020 to 97.5%, according to a report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 

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