Sherpa Intelligence Africa Update

Quarterly roundup of African Information Security and Data Privacy news.

Q2: April 1, 2024 — June 30, 2024

Sherpa Intelligence is now accepting new clients! If your organization needs assistance with Information Security Research, Technical Writing or Leadership Development & Technical Training, visit sherpaintel.net for more information.

Maasai Mara, Rift Valley, Kenya

1. Kenya becomes latest country to consider curbs on TikTok over data security and privacy fears
   (South China Morning Post, April 4th)
2. Ethiopia parliament okays data protection legislation as digital ID efforts ramp up
   (Biometric Update, April 8th)
3. Hackers Targeting Human Rights Activists in Morocco and Western Sahara
   (The Hacker News, April 9th)
4. Zambia uncovers ‘sophisticated’ Chinese cybercrime syndicate
   (BBC, April 10th)
5. Russia’s offensive on “digital sovereignty” in Africa
   (Incyber, April 12th)
6. International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa falls prey to cyber attack
   (Southern Africa’s Freight News, April 16th)
7. Africa and AI: The Case for an Afro-Centric AI Policy and Legislation
   (The Elephant, April 23rd)
8. Sixteen African countries set up council to tackle AI, cybersecurity risks
   (Kenya Broadcasting Company, April 25th)
9. New Research Suggests Africa Is Being Used As a ‘Testing Ground’ for Nation State Cyber Warfare
   (Dark Reading, April 26th)
10. Cisco launches Kenyan cyber security tech experience centre
    (IT Web Africa, April 29th)

Johannesburg, South Africa

1. Nigerian police commissioner to head INTERPOL African Cybercrime units
   (Punch, May 3rd)
2. Cybersecurity Levy: Anger in Nigeria over levy on money transfers
   (BBC News, May 8th)
3. Cyber Leaders Series: The future of cyber on the African continent; a conversation with Kenya’s PS Tanui
   (Center for Strategic & International Studies, May 17th)
4. Microsoft Announces $1 Billion Investment in Kenya’s Digital Ecosystem
   (The Kenyan Wall Street, May 22nd)
5. Telecom Egypt and Huawei to launch first public cloud in Northern Africa
   (Techpoint, May 22nd)
6. U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force deploys first defensive cyber team to Zambia
   (U.S. Cyber Command, May 22nd)
7. New Frontiers, Old Tactics: Chinese Espionage Group Targets Africa & Caribbean Govts
   (The Hacker News, May 23rd)
8. South Africa’s Department of Justice and Constitutional Development suffers another cyber attack
   (IT Web, May 24th)
9. African country Eritrea thwarts massive cyber attack on Independence Day
   (Teiss, May 28th)
10. Africa’s digital identity journey reaches DPI, standards and service integration
    (Biometric Update, May 31st)

Zanzibar Beach, Tanzania

1. South African govt publishes final national cloud and data policy
   (Telecompaper, June 4th)
2. Africa Ranks Low on Phishing Cyber Resilience
   (Dark Reading, June 5th)
3. Strengthening Cybersecurity in African Financial Institutions
   (Africa Telecom Review, June 5th)
4. Ghana Adopts Blockchain To Stem Fraud
   (Global Finance, June 6th)
5. Zambian Court Sentences 22 Chinese Citizens for Cybercrimes
   (Africa dot com, June 10th)
6. Morocco faced 52 million cyber threats last year alone
   (IT Web, June 12th)
7. Cybersecurity: Analysing women, peace and security in Cameroon
   (The African, June 14th)
8. Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank violated customers’ data privacy, say critics
   (Semafor, June 14th)
9. Hamas Hackers Sling Stealthy Spyware Across Egypt, Palestine
   (Dark Reading, June 17th)
10. Cyber criminals hack South Africa’s Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund
    (IT Web, June 26th)

Sherpa Intelligence is now accepting new clients! If your organization needs assistance with Information Security Research, Technical Writing or Leadership Development & Technical Training, visit sherpaintel.net for more information.