Eric Armel Ndoumba
Telecommunications Adviser of the Minister and President of the African Research Center of Artificielle Intelligence
Conseiller aux telecommunications du Ministre et President du Centre Africain de Recherche en Intellignece Artificuelle
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PhD in Computer Science and Telecommunications Network Engineering. Having done my apprenticeship during my various stints in business, I worked for 9 years as Director of Engineering and Architecture of Next Generation Networks at AT&T MOBILITY in Atlanta in the USA before being appointed in 2017, Director of New Technology and then as Telecommunications Adviser to the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.
Active contributor to the development of the national strategy for the development of the digital economy and laws relating to the fight against cybercrime, cybersecurity, the data protection data and electronic transactions.
From my international asset, appointed by the African Union Commission, respectively national coordinator of the PRIDA and PIDA-PAP2 project. And focal point with ECCAS for the development of the consensual action plan for the deployment of electronic communications infrastructure in Central Africa (PACDICE-AC) and the institutional framework for its implementation. In addition, designated by the CEA as an expert in Cybersecurity, digital identity system and Artificial Intelligence. Previously, I also worked with the Council of Europe and the European Union for the development and implementation of the cyber resilience plan in Congo.
my professional background is also full of certain certificates relating to information systems security systems obtained during my various participations in programs as an IT/Telecom Expert such as CCNP, CISSP and MCSE.
To date, I lead the project of the African Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence, in charge of carrying out research on all emerging technologies as well as in cybersecurity at the continental level
Docteur en Informatique et ingénierie des réseaux de Télécommunications. Ayant fait mon apprentissage lors de mes différents passages en entreprise, j’ai travaillé pendant 9 ans comme Directeur de l’ingénierie et de l’architecture des réseaux de nouvelle génération à AT&T MOBILITY à Atlanta aux USA avant d’être nommé en 2017, Directeur de nouvelle Technologie et ensuite comme conseiller aux Télécommunications du ministre des Postes, des Télécommunications et de l’économie Numérique.
Contributeur actif dans l’élaboration de la stratégie nationale de développement de l’économie numérique et des lois portant lutte contre la cybercriminalité, la cybersécurité, la protection des données à caractère personnel et les transactions électroniques.
De mon actif international, désigné par la Commission de l’Union Africaine, respectivement coordonnateur national du projet PRIDA et PIDA-PAP2. Et point focal auprès de la CEEAC pour l’élaboration du plan d’action consensuel de déploiement des infrastructures de Communications Electroniques de l’Afrique centrale (PACDICE-AC) et du cadre institutionnel de sa mise en œuvre. Par ailleurs, désigné par le CEA comme expert en Cybersécurité, en système d’identité numérique et en Intelligence Artificielle.
Auparavant, j’ai aussi travaillé avec le conseil de l’Europe et l’union Européenne pour l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre du plan de cyber résilience au Congo.
mon cursus professionnel regorge tout aussi certains certificats relatifs aux systèmes de sécurité des systèmes d’informations obtenu lors de mes différentes participations aux programmes en qualité d’Expert IT/Télécom tel que CCNP, CISSP et MCSE.
Je conduis à ce jour le projet du Centre Africain de Recherche en Intelligence Artificielle, charger de mener les travaux de recherche sur toutes les technologies émergentes ainsi qu’en cybersécurité au niveau continental.
Area of Expertise
Cybersecurity and Digital Identity Inclusion in Africa
Digital Identity (Digital ID) and Cyber security are both cross cutting themes of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020-2030. The relevance of cybersecurity for digital ID systems and incorporation in Africa can be tied not only to Africa’s Digital Transformation agenda but also to the realisation of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) ambitions, the digital single market initiative and the AU Agenda 2063. Digital ID is key to the need for digital inclusion and besides personal data, information related to online activities such as photographs, purchasing preferences, website usage patterns, and bank account information, are included in an individual’s digital identity. Digital ID is also relevant on different fronts i.e., financial systems, social media sites, government systems, electronic commerce websites, telecom networks, etc. Digital ID now features an individual’s best offline and online identities.
The linking and interoperability of the digital identity of citizens with all other functional identities such as driver’s license, health insurance, voter’s registration and bank verification number is now an increased approach in Africa. Such development and the digitising of citizens’ data, which makes up digital identity, and storing them in centralised databases increases the risk of cybersecurity breaches of digital identity databases. The use of digital identification in a robust, secure, capable of protecting privacy manner, therefore becomes an essential and reliable element for a strong cyber resilience strategy. For a region like Africa which is the least digitalised region of the world, at the heart of the challenge lie two important inter-related considerations: trust and security in the digital systems.
As AI technology also expands in capability and deployment, so do the risks of criminal exploitation. Opportunities for AI-enabled crime exist both in the specifically computational domain (overlapping with traditional notions of cybersecurity) and also in the wider world. some of these threats arise as an extension of existing criminal activities, while others may be novel. AI has increasingly become a tool for cybercrimes, making use of its capabilities to facilitate actions against real world targets. In relation to identity, AI can be used to predict the behaviour of people in order to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. AI can also be used to generate fake content for use in identity theft, blackmail, fraud etc. Therefore, developing Digital ID Systems in Africa without advancing the agenda of cybersecurity in the region will be a futile exercise. Securing the digital identity ecosystem matters because it can help to establish the basis for trust between government and citizens and for service providers, service users and identity services. Increased security, trust and confidence in identities will also incentivize greater participation.
The panel session will discuss how the continent can enhance the integration of cybersecurity considerations into digital ID related policies. As African governments and businesses are being encouraged to invest in automated technologies which provide users with ownership of their own data because of sensitive information entailed in data collection for digital ID systems, this must go hand in hand with the prioritisation of cybersecurity. The introduction of cybersecurity laws and legislation is still quite at a development stage in Africa and not many African countries have cybersecurity legislation and strategies, therefore the session will analsye the policy and legal initiatives in Africa have focused on Digital ID in the context of cybersecurity and how can states underscore cybersecurity in the deployment of digital ID management. Panellists will also discuss the implications of the rapidly evolving emerging technologies in relation to digital systems and cyber-related policies and how these can be leveraged in Africa to achieve trust and security in the deployment of Digital ID initiatives, including in terms of cybersecurity responsive strategies that focus on securing the digital identity of Africans. Finally, the session will also discuss how research in Africa be prioritised as a tool to promote and enhance synchronised cybersecurity approaches in Africa through supporting the operations of cybersecurity initiatives of Member States
Eric Armel Ndoumba
Telecommunications Adviser of the Minister and President of the African Research Center of Artificielle Intelligence
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