Africa Cyber Defense Forum 2025
Kigali, Rwanda
29 Sept – 3 Oct 2025
Cyber Carnival 2026
Nairobi, Kenya
10 – 12 June 2025
Workshops
Mon, 29 – Tue, 30 Sept
NISR Training Centre
Gala Dinner
Tue, 30 Sept
Kigali Marriott Hotel
Conference
Wed, 1 – Thur, 2 Oct
Kigali Marriot Hotel
ACDF Golf Open
Fri, 3 Oct
Kigali Golf Club
“
The rapid evolution of cyber threats in Africa presents unprecedented challenges that require collaboration to mitigate and respond effectively. The continent’s rapid development and digitization necessitates a focus on cybersecurity to ensure a sustainable and inclusive future.
John Omo
Secretary General
African Telecommunications Union (ATU)
Key Discussion Areas
Cybersecurity Capacity Building and Local Talent Development
With cybercrime costing Africa $4 billion annually, ACDF 2025 will focus on scaling training and regional academies to address the skills gap, ensuring African-led curricula to build a workforce capable of tackling local threats and reducing reliance on external expertise
Building African Cybersecurity Products and Services
Ransomware and phishing cause billions in losses yearly, making local cybersecurity solutions critical for sovereignty. The forum will promote startups, incubators, and open-source tools to develop tailored products, balancing global standards with regional needs
Regional Cooperation: Linking CERTs Across Africa
Transnational threats exploit weak coordination, so discussions will centre on linking CERTs and creating a continental network to enhance threat intelligence sharing, prioritizing African-led governance to align with regional priorities
Investment in Cloud, Digital Identity and Data Centre Ecosystems
With Africa’s cloud market set to grow significantly by 2029, the forum will explore investments in local infrastructure, using incentives and partnerships to ensure secure, locally owned ecosystems and reduce foreign dependency
Policy Frameworks to Enhance Digital Sovereignty
RWith 80% of African nations lacking robust cybersecurity laws, discussions will focus on strengthening continental and national policies, establishing oversight agencies, and balancing sovereignty with global collaboration
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa
AI can reduce threat detection time by 50% but raises ethical risks. The forum shall explore discussions around an African AI Ethics Charter to ensure ethical deployment, prioritizing local values to counter external corporate influence
Partners
Sponsors
Get Your Ticket
Digital Pathfinder Pass
Future leaders exploring and shaping Africa's secure digital frontier- Full access to all main conference sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to all keynote sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to the exhibition between 1 and 2 October 2025
Government Pass
Highlights the crucial public-private cooperation ACDF fosters- Full access to all main conference sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to all keynote sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to the exhibition between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Breakfast and lunch on 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to networking gala dinner on 30 September 2025
Professionals Pass
Builders of Africa's secure digital future focused on high-level insights- Full access to all main conference sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to all keynote sessions between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to the exhibition between 1 and 2 October 2025
- Breakfast and lunch on 1 and 2 October 2025
- Full access to networking gala dinner on 30 September 2025
Cyberlympics Rwanda 2025
The 1st in-person hacking / Capture-The-Flag competition is designed to address the cybersecurity skills gap and digital divide that persist in Rwanda, while helping Rwanda grow its status as an emerging technology hub.
Cyberlympics Rwanda is an online cyber-security and cyber-defense competition. It pits teams from Rwanda in a 24-hour intense hands-on real-life based scenarios and hands-on Virtual labs that cover a series of challenges
Speakers
Dr. Zelalem Mengistu
CEO and Director, Global Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech Advisory
Rasbyte
Ali Uzun
Solutions Engineering Team Lead
SOCRadar® Extended Threat Intelligence
Yazid AKANHO
Technical Engagement Manager, MEA Region
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
David Mberingabo
Security Lead
RMsoft
Oscar Okwero
Cyber & Data Security Engineer
CyberIntel Technologies Ltd
Global Tech Leaders and Experts
An extraordinary gathering of cybersecurity leaders, innovators, and policymakers at the forefront of digital defense and innovation in Africa
Noureen Njoroge
Director, Global Cyber Threat Intelligence, Nike
David Kanamugire
Chief Executive Officer
National Cyber Security Authority, Rwanda
Paula Ingabire
Minister for ICT and Innovation
Rwanda
Eddy Kayihura
Senior Consultant
AP Consulting Ltd
John Omo
Secretary-General
African Telecommunications Union
- ATTEND ACDF
Interested in the Cyber Defense industry?
Africa Cyber Defense Forum is definitely the
event you cannot miss.
DIGITAL
BUSINESS
SERIES
Our ACDF Digital Series are our smaller thematic forums that focus on highlighting key industry issues focusing on
CYBERLYMPICS
Our Cyberlympics program is part of our annual forum that is held in parallel with our 2-day forum. This program is designed
AFRICA CYBER
DEFENSE
FELLOWSHIP
We have fellowship programs that are geared towards cyber defense research in Africa
AFRICA CYBER
RESILIENCE
PROGRAM
Our African Cyber Resilience Program is geared towards building the necessary competence for the different government
AFRICAN ALLIANCE
OF CYBERECURITY
EXECUTIVES
Our African Alliance of Cybersecurity Executive is a policy think tank for mutual progress to achieve sustainable
STARTUP
HUB
Discover many cyber defense startups and scale-ups as they present the project they’re busy with.
01 Cyber Pros5
02 Investors5
03 Hackers5
04 Startups5
05 Students5
- REWATCH ANYTIME
2 days of exclusive sessions, interview and workshop with global visionary leaders and the brightest creative minds
