Firewalling Africa: Using ICTs to tackle security challenges
Lazarus Sauti
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They should embrace space technology for the utilisation of space solutions
for effective peace, human and continental safety in Africa.
African governments should also invest in products such as data mining
software, integrated computer networks, biometric identification system, early
warning technologies, surveillance cameras, data storage, behaviour pattern
recognition software, and software designed to identify suspicious behaviour.
These ICT products should also be deployed in different facets of the
society to effectively meet different sustainable space technology development
goals.
This means that African governments should invest a great deal of time and
resources in space technology to improve the security situation in the
continent.
It is the mandate of African governments to bring about the benefits of
space technology to the masses and this can only be achieved through
exploitation of the opportunities available in the space sector.
Importantly, space technology is also vital in crime control – methods
taken to reduce crime in a society.
The continent is facing many threats from different angles. There are crimes
of international terrorism and spying. Accordingly, space technology can be
deployed to combat these crimes.
Africa can also use space technology to meet security challenges in the
areas of surveillance, information gathering and legal regime.
Dr Gbenga Oduntan, of the University of Kent, (UK) believes, “Space
technology has the ability to change the economic fortunes of the continent.”
Consequently, Africa could leap out of poverty by focusing on outer space
research and applications.
To fully embrace and benefit from space technology, stakeholders in areas
of defence and information technology should work on legal frameworks for the
licensing of space activities in countries within and across the continent.
Dr Oduntan remarks: “Legal instruments are necessary to ensure coordination
and standards in space business in the continent.
“A major component of the legal framework is the establishment of a space
register where all space objects servicing African countries will be
registered.”
More so, legal frameworks for the licensing of space activities in African
countries are essential primarily for the security of Africa and her citizenry.
Leveraging developments in information and communication technologies to
address Africa’s security challenges is a step in the right direction.
These developments take in integrated defence ICT frameworks. Accordingly,
African governments should consider and invest heavily in integrated defence
ICT frameworks.
Integrated defence ICTs offer enormous opportunities for addressing
national security challenges and the adoption of them will not only help
towards resolving the immediate security challenges but also help African governments
to tackle unemployment and create wealth.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology Omobola believes that
prioritising defence and security in Africa is of paramount importance.
Omobola remarks, “It is important to note that other nations are
streamlining their expenditure on defence and security especially with regards
to the acquisition and deployment of ICT infrastructure and services.”
Ministries of Defence and organs that deal with defence (security) in all
African blocs should also support policy directive in this direction that can
help us to benefit from a pool of ICT resources, information, knowledge,
intelligence and technologies.
The time is now for African countries to exploit new ways of tackling
security challenges.
The continent cannot overcome security challenges if it does not work
together.
This means Africa and her citizenry should build her capacity in modern
information and communications technologies.
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