ECOWAS, Germany, and EU Forge Cyber Diplomacy Pact, Host Workshop in Abuja By Raymond Enoch

In a landmark move to bolster regional cyber resilience, the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office and the European Union, convened a High-Level Briefing and Workshop on Cyber Diplomacy for the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) on May 20 in Abuja.

Amid escalating digital threats in a swiftly digitizing West Africa, the workshop underscored cybersecurity as a critical foreign policy priority. It forms part of the Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security—an initiative driven under Germany’s G7 Presidency aimed at building cyber diplomacy skills and fortifying the region’s digital defenses.

Speaking at the event, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Annett Günther, stressed the global nature of cyber threats and the need for unified diplomatic responses. “In an era where cyber threats know no borders, diplomacy is key to defend our shared values of security, trust, and cooperation in cyberspace,” she said.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sédiko Douka, and Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Chair of the ECOWAS PRC, echoed similar sentiments—highlighting multilateral engagement as vital to the region’s digital transformation and sustainable development.

The workshop advanced the implementation of the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Action Plan, focusing on confidence-building measures (CBMs), critical infrastructure protection, and cross-border cooperation.

The event reaffirmed ECOWAS, Germany, and the EU’s commitment to forging a secure, trusted, and interconnected cyberspace in West Africa—setting the tone for what could become a model of cyber diplomacy for other regions.