Luanda: The Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nuno Caldas, highlighted in Luanda on Thursday the role of digital transformation as a key driver of the state modernization program, the digitalization of the economy, and the improvement of public service delivery.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Nuno Caldas made these remarks while presenting the President of the Republic's request for legislative authorization to enact laws regarding the legal framework for electronic signatures and digital certification. This request was approved in principle today by the National Assembly (AN) with 166 votes in favor and no votes against or abstentions.
He emphasized that the legislation is part of the digital transformation roadmap aimed at regulating electronic signatures and digital certification, tools that will enable the creation of Angola's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
He added that these measures are included in the National Development Plans (2020-2023 and 2020-2027) and aligned with the African Union's Agenda 2063, as well as with the pillars of public service modernization through e-government.
These instruments, Nuno Caldas noted, aim to foster the digital economy and e-commerce.
He further added that they align with Goals 9 and 11 of the United Nations Agenda 2030, covering Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Communities, with the ultimate goal of achieving national digital sovereignty through digital trust infrastructures that underpin the security of state services.
It further states that this legislative authorization bill addresses shortcomings in the current regime, established by Law 23/11 of July 22 (Electronic Communications and Information Society Services Law) and Presidential Decree No. 201/11 of July 22, which fail to precisely define a specific framework for electronic signatures, digital certification, and public key infrastructure (PKI).
The measure, approved during the 3rd Extraordinary Plenary Meeting of the 4th Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature, takes into account the need to strengthen legal certainty, electronic trust, authenticity, integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation in electronic communications and transactions.
Likewise, it regulates and fosters digital certification activity and governs the operations of the Accrediting Authority and Certification Entities within the national territory.
It aims to define the legal framework applicable to electronic signatures, regulating their use and the criteria for recognizing their validity, legal effect, and evidentiary value, as well as the technical, security, and interoperability requirements and other components inherent to digital certification activities in Angola.
It also addresses the need to structure Angola's Public Key Infrastructure, including the Accrediting Authority, the Angolan Root Certification Entity, and the framework for accreditation, oversight, auditing, liability, and the issuance, suspension, revocation, renewal, and preservation of digital certificates.
