Q1/2020 - African Union

10th Joint session of the African Union Commission and the European Commission (C2C), Addis Ababa, 27 February 2020

The 10th joint meeting of the African Union Commission and the European Commission (AUC-EC Commission-to-Commission/C2C) was held in Addis Ababa on 27 February 2020. The meeting was co-chaired by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen. The one-day consultations also addressed issues of cyber security and the digital economy. The two Commissions agreed to establish a Digital Partnership. An AU-EU Digital Economy Task Force shall advance the digital transformation in Africa and help to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In particular, the following five areas are named:

  • Support the development of digital infrastructures;
  • Build a secured single digital market in Africa by 2030;
  • Develop national Internet policies and regulations;
  • Develop digital skills by means of appropriate training programs;
  • Promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship[1].  

Both sides further agreed closer cooperation in combating cyber crime and measures to strengthen security and trust in cyber space and to enhance data protection[2]. Already in 2014, the African Union adopted an “African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection[3]. However, up to now only five of the 55 AU Member States have ratified the convention. The convention cannot become effective until the 15th instrument of ratification or accession is deposited. On 11 December 2019, the African Union has established a new group of experts on cyber security. The first session of the working group had been planned for end of March 2020 but had to be postponed indefinitely due to the Corona crisis.

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African UnionQ1/2020
  1. [1] See: 10th African Union Commission – European Commission Meeting; Joint Communique, Addis Ababa, 27 Februar y2020: „8. In order to better connect the two continents and accelerate growth for the achievement of the SDGs and AU Agenda 2063, they agreed to promote cooperation to establish a Digital Partnership based on a shared vision on an open and secure digital economy, and which puts African and European citizens at the centre of the digital transformation. They agreed that Africa and Europe should harness the many opportunities offered by digitalisation to drive innovation and transformation in all sectors. Building on the work done by the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force, they noted the importance of taking into consideration the AU's Digital Transformation Strategy by Africa (2020-2030) for the future cooperation. 9. In this regard, both continents agreed to enhance their partnership to (i) support digital infrastructure; (ii) build a secured single digital market in Africa by the 2030; (iii) help improve favourable environment, policy and regulation, (iv) develop digital skills and applications; and (v) promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship.“ In: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_365
  2. [2] See: 10th African Union Commission – European Commission Meeting; Joint Communique, Addis Ababa, 27 February 2020:In view of promoting African solutions to African problems, both sides stressed the urgent need to adapt and upscale cooperation to better respond to the changing nature of common threats, notably the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, trafficking and transnational crime including cybercrime and for action-oriented measures to curb the persistent illicit flow and use of arms and weapons into the African Continent. 16. The two Commissions emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation in various areas presently implemented through the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), including promotion of ultilateralism, conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building, and health security. Furthermore, transitional justice, the rule of law, elections, human rights and gender equality were also highlighted as key areas of cooperation. They also stressed the critical role of cybersecurity and trust in the digital age and agreed to focus on and enhance capacity in privacy and data protection.“, in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_365
  3. [3] An African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection was drafted in 2011 to establish a ‘credible framework for cybersecurity in Africa through organization of electronic transactions, protection of personal data, promotion of cyber security, e-governance and combating cybercrime.’ The AU postponed the adoption of the Convention several times before finally adopting it in June 2014 (see INCYDER news item). The Convention addresses three main areas: (1) electronic transactions, (2) personal data protection, (3) cyber security and cybercrime. The treaty will enter into force 30 days after the 15th instrument of ratification or accession is deposited. However, by now, the Convention is only ratified by 5 out of 55 AU members (Ghana, Guinea, Mauritius, Namibia and Senegal), while 14 more countries have signed it but have not ratified it, according to the Convention webpage, in: https://ccdcoe.org/organisations/au/