Hon. Murray-Conteh Pushes Stronger Cybersecurity Measures Across Africa

Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Legislative Committee Chairman, Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh, has called on African parliaments to strengthen cybersecurity measures and adopt proactive strategies to address growing cyberattacks and digital disinformation.

He made the call on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Annual General Meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, where he seconded a motion urging African parliaments to strengthen their defenses against cyber threats and false information online.

Marray-Conteh warned that cyberattacks can disrupt parliamentary operations, compromise sensitive information and undermine public trust, while social media and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion.

“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical ICT issue. It is now a governance issue, a national security issue, and a democratic resilience issue,” he said.

He urged African parliaments to strengthen their technological, institutional and strategic preparedness while providing cybersecurity capacity building for Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.

Highlighting Sierra Leone’s experience, Marray-Conteh cited the repeal of Part V of the Public Order Act, which criminalized libel, and the Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2021, which provides measures to prevent computer system abuse, facilitate electronic evidence collection, protect critical national information infrastructure and strengthen international cooperation against cybercrime.

He also called on the CPA Africa Region to translate its discussions into practical action at national level and prioritize preparedness over reaction.

However, Marray-Conteh cautioned that cybersecurity measures must not be used to undermine democracy or freedom of expression.

“Our efforts to eliminate cybersecurity threats in our respective countries should not be seen as a tool to hinder democracy,” he said.

He stressed the need to balance stronger cybersecurity protections with the preservation of democratic freedoms as African countries continue to expand their digital transformation.

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