On 29 October, the Cape Verdean government officially inaugurated the country’s new Security Operations Centre (SOC) and the Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CSIRT) within the framework of the State’s Private Technology Network (RTPE).
These developments are key components of the nation’s strategic efforts to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities, ensuring a secure environment for its ongoing digital transformation initiatives.
A CSIRT functions as a cybersecurity alert and response hub accessible to both organisations and the public, designed to handle and disseminate information about cyber threats. Meanwhile, the SOC is tasked with continuously monitoring, detecting, and preventing cyber threats to improve the overall cybersecurity posture of the government and its agencies.
Eurico Monteiro, Minister of State for Modernisation and Public Administration, emphasised that this initiative reflects an integrated vision of modernising public administration, where technology serves citizens and businesses with greater efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. He underscored that digitising public services is a strategic priority; however, this progress must be underpinned by a secure, reliable, and resilient digital environment.
Pedro Lopes, Cape Verde’s Secretary of State for Digital Economy, highlighted ongoing efforts to bolster cybersecurity, including updating the national cybersecurity strategy, enacting laws to protect personal data, establishing dedicated training centres, and launching awareness campaigns. These measures aim to build a comprehensive and robust cybersecurity ecosystem.
According to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) “Global Cybersecurity Index 2024,” Cape Verde ranks fourth out of five African countries, reflecting a basic but growing commitment to cybersecurity. The country scores well on regulatory frameworks–achieving 17.36 out of 20 — yet still needs to strengthen organisational structures, technical capabilities, capacity building, and international cooperation.
Furthermore, Cape Verde is ranked 111th globally on the UN eGovernment Development Index (EGDI) 2024, with a score of 0.6238 out of 1. Above the African average, the score indicates progress but also highlights the need for continued development to reach higher levels of digital government maturity.
Looking ahead, Cape Verde aims to leverage its digital sector to drive national development, with projections suggesting the digital economy across Africa could reach at least $712 billion by 2050 — accounting for 8.5% of the continent’s GDP, according to a joint study by IFC and Google. Strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure like the SOC and CSIRT is fundamental to realising these ambitions by creating a secure environment for digital growth and innovation.
