November 18, 2021
President Julius Maada Bio has yesterday signed the Cybersecurity bill into law. The President used the occasion to acknowledge the crucial role played by the European Union in process.
“The European Union representative also acknowledges that the bill I am about to sign into law is consistent with the Budapest Convention on cybercrime, The African Union’s Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, and the ECOWAS directive on fighting cybercrime. So, our law is therefore not a standalone contrivance for shoddy political ends.”
The President added: “As the EU representative has noted, it is consistent with the international gold standard Budapest Convention on cybercrime. The EU’s position on cooperation on questions of the rule of law in cyberspace especially given what he terms “shifting or unknown jurisdictions,” protocols on disclosure of electronic evidence, instant cooperation in emergency situations where lives are at risk, and safeguards to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the protection of personal data are all agreeable.”
He was especially thankful to the EU saying: “We also thank the European Union through our regional body, ECOWAS, for providing support for the establishment of our first ever National Computer Security Incidence Response Centre. Thank you for supporting capacity development for our law enforcement agencies. That is indeed a key requirement for the effective implementation of this law.”
The President was oblivious of the effort of others from the international scene that have contributed to the enactment of the law. He referenced them saying: “We thank the Council of Europe through the Global Action on Cybercrime Extended — the GLACY+ project — for its technical support and guidance in developing this law. 18. We also thank the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the Global Partners Digital for working with us to undertake the National Cybersecurity Risk Assessment and for supporting the development of our National Cybersecurity Policy and strategy.”
President highlighted the significance of the piece of legislation saying: “Our presence here this morning underscores our recognition that digital technologies are to the 21st Century what the steam engine was to the Industrial Revolution. They are truly transformational.”
He made the connection between cyber security and attainment of Sustainable Development Goal.
“I also see digital technologies as enablers that will accelerate and drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals depending on how intentional we are about introducing them, how we scale their impact, and how accessible and inclusive those digital technologies are to our populations,” the President reassured.
The President also linked digital innovation to the free quality education as the flagship project of the government. He said: “At the local levels, Sierra Leone has focused on developing digital technologies and expanding access to those technologies. Our young population and our investments in free quality education as well as in science, technology and innovation underline our strong aspiration that we will no longer be at the receiving end of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
President also thanks media and civil society for being supportive of Cybersecurity.