2011

The government of Cameroon has introdused a new law on cybercrime in the Parliament. The Bill would define major cybercrimes, including pedophilia, child pornography, infringments to human dignity, the propagation of false rumors and intrusion into the banking system.

The first West Africa Cybercrime Summit was held in Abuja, Nigeria, November 30 - December 2. Several local and international cybercrime strategies were discussed, including strengthening international cooperation and developing a regional road map to combat cybercrime.


The 2nd Annual South African Cybercrime Summit was held in Cape Town, November 29-30.


2010

The East African Community (EACO) is planning to adopt common laws against cybercrime, with the assistance of the United Nations agency for trade, UNCTAD. An East African Community Task Force  on Cyberlaws is established.

Five East African States, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are planning to set up a Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in order to fight cybercrime. It includes the assistance of ITU.

AfriNIC has established its Government Agencies Working Group (AfGWG). AfGWG held the first round table for Law Enforcement Agencies, that was held in Cyber City, Mauritsius, January 25-26, 2010, where cybercrime and cybersecurity was a priority.


2009 and before

Established in 1999, the African Union (AU) provides "an effective forum that enabled all Member States to adopt coordinated positions on matters of common concern to the continent..."


Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia have adopted cybercrime legislation. A cybercrime Bill in Botswana passed the Second Reading in the Parliament in December 2007, and is expected to go for third reading in the near future, before it is signed into law.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) involving Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique, initiated efforts on harmonizing cybercrime laws in 2005.


The East Africa region includes Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The progress on cybercrime legislation has been slow in this region, except for Uganda. The Computer Misuse Bill has been drafted in Uganda and a legislative process has started. The East Africa countries are trying to coordinate efforts so that the legislations should be similar to the cybercrime laws in the Southern African region.


A Connect Africa Initiative was launched at a Summit of African leaders in October 2007. It is a global multi-stakeholders partnership aiming to assist and complement the development of ICT infrastructure in Africa.