Cape Town, South Africa, 27 August 2025 – The Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) and Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr William Fayia Sellu, has urged African states to strengthen collaboration in combating cybercrime, stressing the urgent need for robust regional and international cooperation.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, IGP Sellu underscored the importance of the ECOWAS Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Strategy, launched in January 2021, which he described as a blueprint for member states to incorporate into their national frameworks.
He explained that the regional strategy sets out five strategic goals:
- Formulating national cybersecurity and cybercrime strategies – ensuring political will, setting priorities, and clarifying national responsibilities.
- Strengthening cybersecurity for a safe digital space – through national authorities, risk management systems, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
- Reducing cybercrime and ensuring justice – with updated laws, stronger legal frameworks, and enhanced investigative capacity.
- Promoting coordination and cooperation – through ratification of international conventions and nurturing a culture of cybersecurity.
- Establishing regional mechanisms – including assistance plans, monitoring systems, and a Cybersecurity Coordination Centre.
Despite these measures, he acknowledged that West African states continue to grapple with major challenges such as limited infrastructure, a shortage of skilled personnel, weak enforcement mechanisms, and the transnational nature of cybercrime. He also noted that public awareness of online risks remains low, with many countries yet to adopt comprehensive data protection and privacy laws.
“Cyber threats do not recognise borders,” IGP Sellu cautioned. “Our response must therefore be strategic, inclusive, and collaborative. With sustained political will, regional solidarity, and global cooperation, we can build a resilient and secure digital future for all.”
Several West African countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria, have already enacted national cybercrime legislation in line with the ECOWAS framework. However, Mr Sellu emphasised that continuous capacity-building, resource-sharing, and joint enforcement remain essential in safeguarding the region from evolving digital threats.
The three-day conference, which runs from 27–29 August in Cape Town, has brought together African police chiefs, security experts, and international partners to deliberate on pressing security concerns, with cybercrime topping the agenda.
SLP Media Team
