Abidjan, Ivory Coast//-The Cyber Africa Forum (CAF) has unveiled the programme for its 6th edition, which will take place on 16–17 November 2026 at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Digital Trust”.
Organised by Kaydan Group with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Benin, the Forum will bring together more than 1,500 public- and private-sector decision-makers around five key themes: artificial intelligence and sovereignty, digital trust and cyber diplomacy, investment and the digital economy, digital identity, and talent and creative industries.
As cyber threats intensify, digital trust is becoming a strategic priority for Africa
Africa is rapidly digitalising its public services, payment systems and commercial transactions, while cyber threats are growing in scale. According to INTERPOL, artificial intelligence is now involved in 55% of cybercrimes reported across the continent, while reported losses rose from USD 192 million in 2024 to USD 484 million in 2025.
In the financial sector, cybersecurity has emerged as a major regulatory priority. According to the fifth edition of the African Financial Industry Barometer, conducted by Deloitte and the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS), 97% of respondents ranked cybersecurity as their top priority for regulatory developments.
Whether through the rollout of digital identity systems, the expansion of digital payments or the acceleration of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), trust has become an essential prerequisite for the continent’s digital transformation. This is the context underpinning the theme chosen for the Forum’s sixth edition.
Five key themes at the heart of Africa’s digital transformation
Artificial intelligence: who sets the rules? Several African countries, including Benin, have adopted national artificial intelligence strategies, but governance frameworks remain under development. The opening panel will explore the framework needed to ensure the responsible and sovereign use of AI. A second panel will address the question: “AI, Five Years On: Has Innovation Delivered?”
Crises of trust and cyber diplomacy. Data breaches, cyberattacks targeting public administrations and disinformation campaigns: how do crises of digital trust emerge, and how can they be contained? One panel will examine what international rules effectively regulate in cyberspace, and what remains beyond their reach.
Financing Africa’s digital economy. The first panel will explore the following question: Where is capital flowing, under what conditions and with what risks? A dedicated session will focus on digital payment security, a critical factor in driving the adoption of mobile money and online payments.
Digital identity. Biometric identity cards, digital civil registries and unique identification systems: African governments are accelerating their deployment, but the centralisation of data is creating new vulnerabilities. A panel will examine the associated risks and the safeguards needed to address them.
Talent, women and creative industries. The programme will feature a Cyber Africa Women session, an open conversation entitled “She Leads”, a Research and Development session, and a Tech 4 Creative Industries session exploring the applications of artificial intelligence in fashion, music, sports and the arts, with the participation of the Ministers of Culture of Benin and Rwanda.
These themes will be explored across three stages: Digital Africa Stage for plenary sessions and panel discussions, Innovation Talk for inspiring presentations, and Agora de la Tech for showcasing African digital solutions and entrepreneurship.
The programme will also feature official and partner keynotes, Net Discover sessions, the CAF CIO/CISO Club, exclusively dedicated to Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers, as well as B2B and B2G business meetings scheduled through the Forum’s application.
In parallel, from 15 to 17 November, the 80 finalists of HackerLab 2026, organised by ASIN in partnership with the Cyber Africa Forum, will compete in a 48-hour cybersecurity challenge at the Golden Tulip.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for Monday, 16 November at 9:30 a.m., will feature official addresses by ministers and senior leaders, an awards ceremony and the signing of partnership agreements. The Forum will conclude on Tuesday, 17 November at 6:00 p.m.
HackerLab, Tech 4 Creative Industries and the College of Experts: flagship initiatives of the 2026 edition
HackerLab, organised in partnership with ASIN, will bring together 80 finalists for a cybersecurity competition. The Tech 4 Creative Industries programme will explore applications of artificial intelligence across the creative industries, while the College of Experts will contribute to discussions on the continent’s major digital challenges.
Ange KOUA, Editorial Director of the Cyber Africa Forum, said:
“We have designed this edition to ensure that every participant, whether a public-sector decision-maker, cybersecurity expert, investor, entrepreneur or student, leaves Cotonou with concrete insights and new opportunities for collaboration. Our ambition is to make the Cyber Africa Forum a platform where discussions lead to recommendations, partnerships and initiatives capable of supporting the continent’s long-term digital transformation.”
Practical information and registration
The Cyber Africa Forum 2026 will take place on 16–17 November 2026 at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, Benin.
Registration is open on the Forum’s official website: www.cyberafricaforum.com
