Tech
THE sixth edition of the Cyber Africa Forum (CAF), Africa’s flagship platform on digital transformation and cybersecurity, will hold from Nov. 16 to Nov. 17 in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The forum, scheduled for the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.
The event is being organised with the support of Benin’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation.
The 2026 edition is themed, “Building Tomorrow’s Digital Trust.”
Organisers said the forum would bring together senior government officials, business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and global technology experts to discuss Africa’s digital future.
They said the meeting comes at a critical time as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the global digital landscape and intensifies competition among nations.
According to the organisers, Africa now has nearly 500 million internet users, while its digital economy is projected to reach 712 billion dollars by 2050.
They, however, noted that the continent remains one of the regions most vulnerable to cybercrime, with losses estimated at nearly three billion dollars between 2019 and 2025.
The organisers said strengthening digital trust was essential to attracting investment, driving innovation and ensuring secure digital adoption across African economies.
The forum will introduce three new initiatives to deepen collaboration and innovation in the sector.
They include a College of Experts bringing together leading figures from academia, business, government and international organisations to shape strategic discussions.
Another initiative, Tech 4 Creatives, will showcase African innovators applying AI and emerging technologies in fashion, music, sports and the creative industries.
The third initiative, HackerLab, organised in partnership with Benin’s Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique (ASIN), will host a two-day hackathon for young African cybersecurity talents.
The hackathon will challenge participants to develop practical solutions to real-world cybersecurity and cybercrime issues.
CAF Commissioner-General, Franck Kié, said returning to Benin for a second consecutive year reflected the organisers’ confidence in the country’s growing digital ecosystem.
“Coming back to Benin for a second year running says everything about our confidence in this country.
“The calibre of decision-makers expected, the ambition of our programme and the new initiatives we will unveil this year all point to an edition that will be even more impactful than the previous one,” Kié said.
The two-day programme will feature conferences, panel discussions, ministerial roundtables, business matchmaking sessions and investment pitch events.
Key topics include artificial intelligence and algorithmic sovereignty, cyber diplomacy, digital trust, data governance, digital identity, connected healthcare, satellite infrastructure and financing Africa’s digital economy.
The forum will also examine pan-African digital interoperability in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Organisers said several African ministers, heads of national digital agencies, international organisations and leading technology companies had confirmed participation.
They added that the full list of speakers would be announced in the coming weeks.
F.O
Tags: CAF