Cyberdrill 2025 Closes in Kintele, Boosts Central Africa’s Cyber Readiness

The 13th Regional Cyberdrill for Central Africa has successfully concluded in Kintélé, Republic of Congo, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s collective efforts to bolster cybersecurity capabilities. Over four days of intensive exercises, Cyberdrill 2025 brought together government teams, public security forces, critical infrastructure operators, national research centers, and international partners, significantly enhancing Central Africa’s cyber readiness.

Organized under the crucial themes of digital sovereignty and regional cyber resilience, the event aimed to improve preparedness and cooperation in the face of an alarming surge in cyber threats across the continent. Africa currently experiences an average of 3,370 cyberattacks per organization each week, with annual increases exceeding 90%, costing the continent over $4 billion annually. These stark figures underscored the urgency and importance of Cyberdrill 2025.

Key activities during the drill included in-depth threat analysis, real-world attack scenarios to understand attacker tactics, rigorous response testing, and the crucial strengthening of regional and international partnerships. Participants engaged in hands-on workshops, crisis simulations, and technical training sessions, all designed to sharpen skills, validate incident response protocols, and foster effortless collaboration during cyber incidents. The simulated cyberattacks and security breaches, coupled with cyber crisis management scenarios and live drills, provided invaluable experience in testing command and coordination systems.

The Republic of Congo, through its Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to cybersecurity as a cornerstone of national security, institutional stability, economic trust, and social cohesion. Congo is actively progressing its digital governance through initiatives like the National Digital Development Plan (2022–2026) and the Congo Digital Strategy 2030, alongside strengthening its National Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI). A notable highlight was the formal institutional endorsement of the African Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence (CARIA) during the Council of Ministers on July 2nd, emphasizing Congo’s ambition to become a digital trust hub in Central Africa.

Supported by key institutions such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Interpol, ANSSI, and CARIA, Cyberdrill 2025 emphasized the critical need to institutionalize cooperation and operationalize lessons learned. Authorities called for the establishment of a coordinated and interoperable regional cybersecurity architecture, capable of effectively addressing cross-border and systemic cyber threats. Kintélé, with its modern infrastructure and hospitality, was lauded for its role in solidifying its position as an emerging digital crossroads for the continent.

Cyberdrill 2025 has undoubtedly set a new benchmark for cybersecurity collaboration in Central Africa, showcasing the region’s growing readiness and unwavering determination to defend its digital space through strategic coordination, robust capacity building, and sustained political will.