Introduction
As Ivory Coast gears up for the 2025 presidential elections, the country faces mounting cyber threats and disinformation campaigns that risk destabilizing the electoral process. In response, President Alassane Ouattara signed a decree on October 30, 2024, establishing the National Agency for Information Systems Security (Anssi). This ambitious agency aims to bolster national cybersecurity and combat fake news, marking a pivotal shift for the security and stability of Ivory Coast.
1. Geopolitical Challenges and Disinformation Campaigns
Cyber threats in Ivory Coast go beyond technical risks; they include foreign interference targeting other countries in the region. Disinformation groups linked to the Russian Wagner Group frequently target both Ivory Coast and Niger, attempting to weaken pro-French governments like those of Alassane Ouattara and Mohamed Bazoum. These influence operations aim to manipulate public perception and undermine regional alliances, highlighting Ivory Coast’s need for robust cybersecurity defenses.
2. Background and Creation of Anssi
Rising cybercrime and fake news have prompted Ivory Coast to intensify its cybersecurity strategy. The creation of Anssi will centralize the country’s cyber defense initiatives. Led by the Minister of Digital Economy, Ibrahim Khalil Konaté, this agency is the culmination of a national cybersecurity strategy launched in 2021. It aims to protect the Ivorian digital economy and stabilize the country’s institutions. By consolidating multiple entities under a single authority, Anssi strengthens the country’s ability to prevent and respond to information security incidents.
3. Mission and Functioning of Anssi
Anssi integrates functions previously managed by entities such as the Directorate of Information and Technological Traces (DITT) and the Computer Security Incident Response Center (CI-Cert). This centralization allows for more effective coordination in responding to cyberattacks and managing crises, especially when critical infrastructures are at risk. Anssi will also focus on countering fake news on social media, an increasingly crucial component for maintaining social cohesion, particularly as elections draw near.
4. Strategic Partnerships and Foreign Expertise
Ivory Coast plans to collaborate with international experts to develop its cybersecurity capabilities, with a focus on Israel, known for its expertise in the field. While the country already works with players like Cybastion (U.S.) and Huawei (China), Israel could play a key role by providing advanced cybersecurity knowledge through companies like Verint and NSO Group. These partnerships will allow Anssi to benefit from external skills while training Ivorian specialists for increased autonomy.
5. Combating Fake News: A Social Stability Challenge
The spread of fake news on social media presents a major challenge to the stability of Ivory Coast. Disinformation aimed at the government and local actors can exacerbate social divides and influence public opinion, thus threatening social peace. Anssi’s mission includes monitoring social networks in collaboration with major platforms to identify and deactivate accounts tied to disinformation campaigns, such as those operated by groups like Project Lakhta. This proactive monitoring is essential to maintaining public trust and preventing social tensions.
6. A Model Inspired by International Cybersecurity Standards
By establishing Anssi, Ivory Coast joins other countries that have adopted dedicated cybersecurity structures, such as France, Morocco, and Rwanda. This model, inspired by international standards, places Ivory Coast on a path toward strengthened cybersecurity while enhancing public confidence in its digital institutions. Anssi also aims to promote transparent digital governance and secure the growth of the digital economy, which offers reassurance to international investors.
7. Training and Development of Local Expertise
One of Anssi’s objectives is to build local expertise in cybersecurity. Alongside foreign partnerships, training programs for young Ivorian specialists will be established to ensure that the country has autonomous expertise in cybersecurity. This approach ensures that, in the near future, Ivory Coast will be able to manage its own cyber issues without relying heavily on foreign partners, reinforcing its national security independence.
8. Conclusion: Implications for Security and Stability in Ivory Coast
With the establishment of Anssi, Ivory Coast gains a strategic tool for protecting its infrastructure and digital space. By coordinating national and international efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, the country hopes to ensure a secure electoral environment while reinforcing social and political stability. Amid ongoing regional tensions, Anssi could become a model for other African nations in cybersecurity and the protection of democratic processes.
© 2024 – O Bulamba / Africa Daily Report
