Key Takeaways
- A new research initiative, “Advancing the Application of International Law in the Cyber Context in Africa,” will help African Union member states develop national legal positions on cyber‑security threats.
- The project is led by Dr. Talita Dias of the University of Exeter, in partnership with GIZ and the African Union.
- While international law is widely accepted as applicable to cyberspace, only 37 states have published national positions—and just one of those is African (Kenya).
- The initiative combines technical training with diplomatic engagement, offering workshops, simulations, peer‑to‑peer exchanges, and expert feedback on draft positions.
- The goal is not to impose a single model but to enable each state to craft positions that reflect its own legal traditions and policy priorities, thereby strengthening continental cyber resilience and participation in global norm‑setting.
Project Overview and Objectives
The “Advancing the Application of International Law in the Cyber Context in Africa” project seeks to bridge the gap between growing cyber threats and the limited legal‑policy capacity of many African governments. By supporting AU member states to formulate clear national positions on how international law governs state behaviour in cyberspace, the initiative aims to enhance both domestic responsiveness to cyber incidents and continental influence in shaping global cyber norms. The work is deliberately collaborative, combining scholarly research, practical guidance, and direct engagement with policymakers to ensure that outcomes are context‑specific and actionable.
Leadership and Partnerships
Dr. Talita Dias from the University of Exeter serves as the project’s principal investigator, bringing expertise in international law and cybersecurity. She works closely with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), which provides implementation support and connects the initiative to broader development programs. The African Union acts as a key institutional partner, ensuring that activities align with continental strategies and that results are fed back into AU policy forums. This tri‑partite structure leverages academic rigor, technical assistance, and political ownership to maximize impact.
Current State of National Positions
Although there is broad consensus among states that existing international law applies to cyberspace, the translation of that principle into concrete national positions remains uneven. As of now, only 37 countries have issued official statements or documents outlining how they interpret and apply international legal rules to cyber activities. Among these, Kenya stands alone as the sole African contributor, highlighting a significant gap in the continent’s representation in the evolving legal discourse. This scarcity limits African states’ ability to argue their perspectives in multilateral negotiations and to defend their interests against cyber‑related challenges.
Cyber Threat Landscape Facing Africa
Dr. Dias emphasizes that digital transformation is reshaping African economies, governance, and security, offering tremendous opportunities for service delivery, innovation, and economic growth. Simultaneously, the same technologies are being exploited for harmful cyber operations such as ransomware attacks, distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) campaigns, electoral interference, and disinformation efforts. These threats increasingly undermine national stability, erode public trust, and challenge sovereignty, particularly as African nations expand their digital infrastructures and rely more heavily on ICT‑driven services.
African Engagement in Multilateral Forums
Despite capacity constraints, African countries have not been absent from international cyber discussions. They have actively participated in United Nations processes, notably the Open‑ended Working Group on Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). In 2024, the African Union adopted its landmark Common African Position on the Application of International Law to the Use of Information and Communications Technologies in Cyberspace, signaling a collective commitment to shape the normative framework. This position affirms Africa’s role as an active contributor, yet it also underscores the need for Member States to translate continental agreements into actionable national policies.
Foundational Resources: The Handbook
The project builds upon the Handbook on Developing a National Position on International Law and Cyber Activities: A Practical Guide for States, produced in a earlier University of Exeter‑led effort supported by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Handbook offers a step‑by‑step methodology for states to analyse existing legal obligations, assess national interests, and draft coherent positions. It emphasizes flexibility, encouraging states to adapt the guidance to their unique legal systems and policy environments rather than imposing a uniform template.
Planned Activities and Delivery Model
Implementation will center on an in‑person workshop hosted at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, complemented by simulation exercises that replicate real‑world cyber incidents and legal deliberations. Peer‑to‑peer exchanges will allow officials from different Member States to share experiences, challenges, and best practices. Throughout the process, participating states will receive tailored expert feedback on draft national positions, helping them refine language, strengthen legal arguments, and align with both domestic priorities and international expectations. This blend of training, practice, and mentorship is designed to build sustainable capacity beyond the project’s lifespan.
Philosophy of Inclusive Position‑Building
Professor Kubo Mačák, the legal academic who led the Handbook initiative, stresses that the project’s purpose is not to prescribe a single “correct” way of articulating a state’s cyber‑law position. Instead, the aim is to create a space for informed reflection, dialogue, and collaboration, enabling each country to develop positions that genuinely reflect its own legal traditions, constitutional frameworks, and policy objectives. By respecting diversity of approach, the initiative seeks to enrich the global debate with a variety of African perspectives, thereby strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of international cyber norms.
Anticipated Impact and Sustainability
Through these coordinated efforts, the project expects to raise the number of African states with published national positions on international law in cyberspace from one to a significantly higher figure, enhancing the continent’s visibility in forums such as the UN Open‑ended Working Group and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise. Improved national capacities should translate into faster, more legally sound responses to cyber incidents, better protection of critical information infrastructures, and stronger advocacy for norms that safeguard African interests in the digital age. By embedding the skills and resources within AU structures and Member State ministries, the initiative aspires to leave a lasting legacy of cyber‑legal resilience across Africa.