The Republic of The Gambia signed the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection on 2nd December 2022 at the Headquarters of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Honourable Ousman A. Bah, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy signed the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection on behalf of the Republic of The Gambia. He hailed the event as a landmark development in The Gambia’s trajectory towards digital transformation and the development of enhanced national cyber-security infrastructure. The instrument, in line with its intent and purposes, serves as a strong pillar for trade facilitation between countries through e-commerce and seeks to provide the continental platform to further expand the safe space for digital economy through legal, policy and regulatory measures on cyber security, and digital governance processes.
The Honourable Minister reiterated the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to ratify the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection following its signature to pave the way for its domestication.
On her part, Mrs. Mantha who deputised the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission thanked the Government of The Gambia for signing the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection and joining the 14 other Member States of the African Union that have signed the Convention. She revealed that 13 Member States have submitted the instruments of ratification to the African Union Commission. She urged the Government of The Gambia to ratify, domesticate and implement the Convention to help attain its desired objectives.
The event was witnessed by Her Excellency Jainaba Jagne, Ambassador of The Gambia to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the staff of the Embassy and Permanent Mission of The Gambia, Honourable Alagie Mbow, National Assembly Member for Upper Saloum, Honourable Birom J.S. Sowe, National Assembly Member for Niamina West, Honourable Almameh Gibba, National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala and, Mr. Malang Bass, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.