27 Jan Microsoft to build cyber security capacity in Africa

Global tech giant Microsoft is partnering with the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) to build up cyber security capacity and defences in Africa.

The two organisations plan to collaborate with the relevant government, justice and law enforcement agencies and officials across Africa. They plan to share knowledge and experience with the aim of capacity building within cyber crime and other related cross-border crimes.

The organisations signed the deal on their partnership with a ceremony at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel during the Commonwealth Secretariat Conference on Cyber Crime in Africa.

AGA’s Director Karen White said: “With aligned missions to support capacity building initiatives in cybercrime investigation and prosecution in Africa, AGA is proud to partner with Microsoft. We are constantly seeking out meaningful partnerships as part of our commitment to continue expanding and improving our global training programs.”

AGA’s Board Member Markus Green added: “The increased use of cyberspace and access to the internet in Africa has brought its challenges to the law and justice sector. This is a timely partnership that supports an urgent need to build capacity to support our partners in the investigation and prosecution of cyberspace criminal activity.”

Mark Ihimoyan, Microsoft’s Regional Director in Emerging Markets (engineering), said: “Organisations in Africa are increasingly transacting online, and e-commerce markets are expanding. Cybercrime presents a major setback to these strides and threatens to reverse the gains made by the rapidly growing uptake of technology. We are indeed excited to launch our partnership with AGA to enhance the exchange of information, strategies, and training to prevent, regulate, investigate and prosecute cybercrime in Africa.”