Digital Financial Security Gaps in Post-Conflict Countries Exposed
A new report has highlighted the significant gaps in digital financial security measures in post-conflict countries, including the Central African Republic. The study compared the cybersecurity frameworks of the Central African Republic with those of Afghanistan, Liberia, and Somalia, revealing that these countries are lagging behind in implementing effective technical, legal, organizational, capacity-building, and cooperative measures to secure their digital financial services.
Gaps in Digital Financial Security Measures
- The Central African Republic lacks a public key infrastructure (PKI) policy and is not implementing effective cybersecurity measures to secure its digital financial services.
- Afghanistan, Liberia, and Somalia have implemented biometric-based digital identification systems and national PKIs, but are still lacking in other areas of cybersecurity.
Comparison with Other Post-Conflict Countries
| Country | Digital Identification System | National PKI Policy | Cybersecurity Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central African Republic | Proposal for blockchain technology (Sango project) | No public key infrastructure policy | Limited awareness and skills training initiatives |
| Afghanistan | Biometric-based digital identification system | National PKI policy in place | Awareness and cybersecurity training initiatives available |
| Liberia | Biometric-based digital identification system | National PKI policy in place | Awareness and cybersecurity training initiatives available |
| Somalia | Biometric-based digital identification system | National PKI policy in place | Awareness and cybersecurity training initiatives available |
Importance of Digital Identification Systems
- Digital identification can be a critical solution to the problem of up to 1 billion people worldwide lacking an official proof of identity.
- Afghanistan, Liberia, and Somalia have seen success with biometric-based digital identification systems.
Recommendations
To address the gaps in digital financial security measures, we recommend:
- Establishing a national PKI policy and infrastructure
- Developing electronic transaction laws and cybercrime policies
- Launching awareness and skills training initiatives
- Implementing biometric-based digital identification systems to secure financial transactions
- Enhancing cybersecurity measures to prevent financial fraud
Conclusion
The findings of this report are concerning, especially given the growing importance of digital financial services in post-conflict countries. It is crucial that these countries prioritize the implementation of effective cybersecurity measures to protect their citizens’ financial transactions and personal data.
Key Takeaways
- The Central African Republic lacks a public key infrastructure (PKI) policy and is not implementing effective cybersecurity measures to secure its digital financial services.
- Afghanistan, Liberia, and Somalia have implemented biometric-based digital identification systems and national PKIs, but are still lacking in other areas of cybersecurity.
- Awareness and skills training initiatives are limited in all four countries, with no user awareness-raising initiatives or cybersecurity training programs available in the Central African Republic.
- Digital identification systems are critical for securing financial inclusion and preventing financial fraud.