Togo: The birth of a unified force against cybercrime
Togo is at a crucial turning point in its fight against cybercrime. Faced with a significant rise in this threat, the country is preparing to take decisive measures. At the heart of this initiative is the new national cybersecurity strategy for the period 2024-2028, which plans the creation of a dedicated entity to combat this modern scourge.
Until now, the fight against cybercrime was fragmented among the National Police, the National Gendarmerie, the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCy), and Cyber Defense Africa (CDA). This fragmentation has often been criticized for its lack of efficiency, characterized by laborious investigations, a lack of cooperation, and rising costs. In response to these challenges, the Togolese government is considering a more integrated approach.
The proposed new entity aims to consolidate resources and skills into a single centralized point. This centralization aims to improve the responsiveness of services and make operations more economical and strategically coherent. A major pillar of this restructuring will be the creation of a national digital forensics laboratory, responsible for conducting scientific research, developing new methods, and training agents in these new techniques.
By bringing together professionals from various backgrounds, including police officers, gendarmes, and civilians, this new entity aims to form a robust team capable of effectively responding to digital threats while combating misinformation and providing advanced intelligence.
