At Nairobi confab: Hon Agho Oliver advocates stronger laws against cybercrime.

This was during the Third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence. 

The gathering was jointly organised by the European Union and Council of Europe, in partnership with the government of Kenya. The three-day event rounded up yesterday. 

Discussions focused on emerging threats on cybercrime and electronic evidence. Delegates also looked at identifying more effective ways of international cooperation through knowledge exchanging and practical experience.

Hon Agho’s interventions were on the topics; “Cybercrime legislation in Africa and international standards” and the: “Role of policymakers and legislators in the fight against cybercrime: when policy meets practice…”

He emphasised the need for countries to introduce stronger and forward-thinking laws to effectively deal with cybercrime.

The MP said such drives will address the cybercrime issues and promote transnational cooperation to inspire, boost and optimize cybercrime legislative processes.

The legislator said cybercrime has become hugely complex, damaging and without borders, making it compulsory for drastic decisions to be taken.

“Cyber threats have become more complex, more borderless and more damaging. Our task is to ensure that our laws are not only strong but fair, forward-looking and anchored in the rule of law,” he said.

He also shared perspectives on how the implementation of the recently adopted United Nations treaty against cybercrime could be synergized. This, he said, could be with the existing outreach of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

Hon Agho sounded positive that Africa is aligning with the Budapest Convention which became the first international treaty to address cybercrime in November 200. 

He linked it with a similar text, the African Union, AU Malabo Convention also introduced while taking into consideration the full respect of human rights.

“Africa has taken an equally important step... with the Malabo Convention in effect and a global consensus through the UN treaty, we now have shared tools for cooperation, justice and accountability,” Hon Agho told delegates.

Cameroon as reference in promoting cybersecurity

The MP used Cameroon as a reference to buttress his points on the efforts that have been made by African nations in tacking cybercrime. He notably cited Cameroon’s move to ratify the Budapest Convention and its plausible step in updating its cybercrime law to match with those of international standards.

He also cited the introduction of a national response team at National Agency for Information and Communication, ANTIC; the setting up of a special cybercrime unit within the judicial police and a scheme put in place to boost the protection of children online. These, he said, are some of the key adjustments that have been made by Cameroon to deal with the rising challenges.

African keep pace with technology

Hon Agho also urged lawmakers from across Africa to embrace capacity build schemes to be able to lead advocacy against crime in the digital space and other changes.

The legislator challenged the stakeholders to notably integrate continental and global structures like the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance and planetary parliamentary network, Parliamentarians for Global Action to acquire needed skills.

 “…Laws must keep pace with technology. They must be agile, technology-neutral and future-proof,” the legislator said. The Third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence assembled stakeholders from across the globe. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3639 of Friday November 28, 2025