Luanda:Member nations of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are being urged to increase cross-border cooperation to bolster the region's digital infrastructure against rising cyber threats. This call to action was made by a senior regional cybersecurity official on Monday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Siphokazi Novukuza, chair of the SADC Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) Regional Working Group, stressed the urgent need for joint efforts during the opening of Cyberdrill 2026. This event is a multi-day regional cyber simulation exercise hosted in Luanda.
Novukuza highlighted that cybercrime transcends national borders and warned that international fraud, malware attacks, and other digital threats could simultaneously target multiple nations. To mitigate these risks, she advocated for improved intelligence sharing, joint capacity-building initiatives, and coordinated incident response protocols among member states.
She further emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that includes governments, private sector partners, and civil society. Novukuza also pointed out the importance of individual citizens in defense efforts, suggesting public awareness campaigns to help users recognize and report digital threats.
The weeklong Cyberdrill 2026 exercise, co-organized by Africacert, the SADC, and the Angolan government, gathers cybersecurity experts and emergency response teams from across the region. The drills are planned to continue through Friday.
