Nairobi Forum Calls for Harmonised Cybercrime Laws in Africa.

Nairobi Forum Calls for Harmonised Cybercrime Laws in Africa.

From left: Virgil Spiridon, Head of Operations at the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office; Dr. Raymond Omollo, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration; Lamin Jabbi, Gambia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; and Ondrej Simek, Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation to Kenya, address the media during a press conference at the third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence held in Nairobi on Tuesday.

By Jeff Oyugi.

Nairobi - November 25, 2025.

Senior officials from across Africa and Europe have called for deeper cooperation, harmonised laws and strengthened capacity to combat the growing threat of cybercrime, as the Third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence opened in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The three-day forum jointly organised by the Government of Kenya, the Council of Europe, the African Union Commission and the European Union brings together ministers, judges, prosecutors, investigators, regulators, diplomats, academics and private sector experts from more than 30 countries.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Matthias Kloth, Head of the Digital Governance and Sport Department at the Council of Europe, said the rise of sophisticated cyber threats demands coordinated action anchored in human rights and the rule of law.

"The fight against cybercrime requires coordinated and sustained multistakeholder action across borders and institutions," Kloth said.

"Security must never come at the expense of human rights, including the right to privacy and freedom of expression. Through instruments such as the Budapest Convention and the Council of Europe's Convention on Data Protection, we continue to support countries in building effective and lawful responses to cybercrime.”

Kloth praised Kenya's role as host nation, noting that African states are increasingly embracing regional frameworks such as the Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. He said the forum reflects a shared drive to shape "a safer, more resilient and more just digital environment.”

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of The Gambia, Lamin Jabbi, warned that African economies are losing billions each year to cybercriminals, despite growing investment in digital transformation.

"Our continent loses about 3 billion US dollars annually to cybercrime," Jabbi said. "More than 80% of institutions have reported at least one cyber incident in the past year, yet fewer than 30% have trained prosecutors or judges to handle electronic evidence.”

He noted that 200,000 cyber-related investigations across Africa remain unresolved due to inadequate capacity, weak cross-border cooperation and severe skills shortages.

Jabbi highlighted Gambia's recent progress, including the passing of its data protection bill, the establishment of a digital forensic laboratory for the police, the adoption of a national cybersecurity strategy and ongoing alignment of domestic laws with international standards.

Since 2017, The Gambia has worked closely with the Council of Europe to draft cybercrime legislation and strengthen institutional capacity.

"Cybercrime is a shared threat. We must harmonise our decisions, share intelligence and build collective capacity," he said.

"Through cooperation between Africa and Europe, we can build a cyber-secure and digitally inclusive society.”

Seychelles Attorney General Vincent Perera delivered a philosophical but pointed warning that the rapid evolution of digital technologies including artificial intelligence is reshaping crime faster than legal systems can adapt.

"Machines now think. Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction," Perera said. "But with these advancements come new forms of crime automated fraud, deepfakes, cybercrime-as-a-service. Investigators must adapt faster than ever before.”

He urged African states to craft a continental strategy that strengthens investigative capabilities, promotes judicial training and deepens international cooperation.

Perera cited recent reports showing that cybercrime now constitutes over 30% of all reported crimes in parts of West and East Africa.

"Let us adapt, let us cooperate, let us defend. Only by acting together can we secure Africa's digital future,”he said.

Justice Smokin Wanjala, Supreme Court Judge and Director-General of the Kenya Judiciary Academy, highlighted the judiciary's role in strengthening the rule of law in the digital era.

He said cybercrime's borderless nature requires predictable legal frameworks, specialized training and strict protection of constitutional rights.

"Clear, robust cybercrime legislation and strong procedures for handling electronic evidence are indispensable," Wanjala said.

"Interventions must always be lawful, proportionate and respectful of citizens' rights.”

The Kenya Judiciary Academy, he said, has partnered with the EU and other international bodies to deliver training for judges, magistrates and investigators between 2023 and 2024. Areas covered include cybercrime, electronic evidence, digital forensics and counterterrorism cases.

"Capacity building for judicial officers is not optional, it is a necessity," he added.

Kenya's Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, said cybercrime has grown in complexity and impact across Africa, undermining economies, digital trust and public safety.

"Cyber incidents thousands of miles away can destabilise institutions within seconds," he said. "Our response must be coordinated, international, and sustained.”

Omollo underscored the challenge of anonymity online, calling for secure digital identity systems that enable lawful access while safeguarding privacy and civil liberties.

He emphasised the need to place young people Africa's largest demographic at the centre of cybersecurity strategies.

"We cannot allow our Gen Z and Gen Alpha to be consumers only," Omollo said. "We must design mechanisms that protect them from identity theft, misinformation and exploitation.”

The PS called for strengthened cross-border cooperation, enhanced mutual legal assistance and increased investment in skills and institutional capacity for investigators, prosecutors and judges.

Speakers at the forum agreed that Africa must urgently strengthen its legal frameworks, improve investigative capacity and expand cooperation with global partners to confront cybercrime effectively.

The Nairobi forum will produce recommendations aimed at harmonising legislation, scaling training programmes, enhancing cross-border collaboration and embedding human rights principles in digital governance.