The Malabo Convention: Africa’s Digital Rulebook

Understanding the Malabo Convention

The African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, also known as the Malabo Convention, is designed to help African countries build stronger and harmonised regulations/frameworks for the digital age. It covers key issues like electronic commerce, data protection, cybercrime and cybersecurity. Once a country ratifies the Convention, it commits to bringing its national laws in line with these shared standards.

The Convention was adopted in Malabo in 2014 to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the continent’s digitalisation. It provides a common legal framework and clear standards for a harmonised digital transition, protecting digital rights and sanctioning cyber crimes.

Gaps and Challenges

However, twelve years on, the Convention struggles to keep pace with developments it could not have foreseen, and to ensure strong citizen’s protection and participation. Rather than simply celebrating it, we want to look honestly at what it makes possible and where it still falls short.

The State of Ratification

As of 2024, only 16 African countries out of 55 have formally ratified the Malabo Convention. However many African states have already introduced their own laws on cybercrime and data protection.

The Case for Ratification

As Africa becomes more digitally connected than ever before, adopting and implementing a common framework to protect digital rights and personal data is strategic for the continent. This is why the Youth Democracy Cohort pushes for ratification of the Malabo convention in its policy recommendations to strengthen digital rights in the Sahel and West Africa.

But what exactly is the Malabo convention? What is its purpose, and why does it matter?

Click, scroll and explore the content below, created by Digitalise Youth partners, to find out!

Digital Rights Across Africa

African countries are at different stages in protecting digital rights through their laws and policies. Select a country to explore how it protects privacy, personal data, cybersecurity and other digital rights.