Rising Digital Threats and the AUEU Summit ^{CEFR B2}

Digital threats have become a major topic in high-level discussions between the African Union and the European Union. Investigative journalists across Africa face spyware, monitoring and online attacks that can expose sensitive information, and Reporters Without Borders says digital surveillance and harassment are increasing across the region. Kenya recorded more than 4.5 billion cyber-attacks in three months, an example of how large and immediate the risk is for individuals, institutions and democratic processes.

Interpol's Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 and a 2025 Kaspersky review highlight threats to critical sectors. Attackers exploit weak systems and uneven readiness, which makes recovery slow and costly for many states. The reports point to rising malware infections, data breaches and system-wide attacks. With fewer than 25,000 certified cybersecurity professionals for a population of more than one billion, many countries lack the capacity to respond as more people come online.

The recent AUEU Summit in Luanda, Angola, placed these issues on the agenda. Leaders discussed peace, security, data protection, connectivity, innovation and training. European officials described work under the Global Gateway agenda: Mathieu Briens of the European External Action Service said the initiative works at continental, regional and national levels and must reach rural communities and ensure safe online spaces for women and girls. Henriette Geiger, Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, said, "We are working with government ministries to make sure that our support reflects the scale of current threats." Delegates also highlighted online violence against women during the sixteen days of activism and warned that financial aid alone will not close the gap; shared standards, planning and long-term investment are needed to turn commitments into concrete action.