In a concerted effort to address the rising threat of cybercrime across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the German Federal Foreign Office, and the European Union (EU) convened a High-Level Briefing and Workshop on Cyber Diplomacy for the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 20, 2025.
The event, organized under the Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security, focused on enhancing cyber resilience and promoting cybersecurity as a strategic foreign policy priority in the region.
According to a statement by the German Embassy, the workshop aimed to deepen regional cooperation, build cyber diplomacy skills, and support the implementation of the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Action Plan. The plan, developed during Germany’s G7 Presidency, emphasizes capacity building, critical infrastructure protection, and confidence-building measures (CBMs) across ECOWAS member states.
“As cyber threats grow in scale and complexity amid rapid digital transformation in West Africa, international cooperation is essential to ensure sustainable development and regional stability,” the statement noted.
German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, who opened the event, stressed the importance of diplomacy in strengthening cybersecurity frameworks. “In an era where cyber threats know no borders, diplomacy is key to defending our shared values of security, trust, and cooperation in cyberspace,” she said.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sédiko Douka, and PRC Chair, Ambassador Musa Nuhu, also addressed the workshop. Both leaders underscored the critical need for regional collaboration and digital resilience to combat the escalating cyber threat landscape.
The event marked a significant milestone in advancing the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Agenda and reaffirmed the partners’ shared commitment to regional security, digital transformation, and multilateral engagement in cyberspace
