Global South cyber forum to focus on ‘non-Western' models
The event will be held from September 15 to 17 and is backed by the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and his government. It aims to promote dialogue on digital and financial sovereignty outside Western frameworks.
Alexander Ryzhov, co-chair of the organizing committee, told African Initiative that the discussions would center on models suited to the needs of the Global South economies, including the security of banking, payment, and telecommunications systems.
'The main goal of our forum is to present 'non-Western' cybersecurity concepts aimed at protecting the banking, payment, and telecommunications industries,' Ryzhov said.
The event will cover topics including Russia's cybersecurity model for critical infrastructure, secure digital payment systems, and cloud storage solutions.
Invited Russian stakeholders include Rosatom, Rostelecom, major commercial banks, IT and cloud service providers, Russian federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo, and energy companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft, and Severstal. The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation (UNFSSC), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, BRICS Bank, Asian-African Fund, and Huawei Technologies Co. are also invited.
The forum will also address broader strategic and economic issues. Planned discussions include opening mutual bank accounts, joint investment in mineral resource development, and establishing a North-South digital and telecoms corridor, Ryzhov stated.
At the Global Digital Forum in Nizhny Novgorod in June, delegates from African countries called for more inclusive and cooperative approaches to economic transformation, expressing interest in strengthening tech ties with Russia.
Eugenio Alberto Macumbe, head of Mozambique's ICT Regulatory Authority's Digital Governance Division, told RT his country is pursuing digital transformation and AI strategies, noting Russia's advanced progress in AI and the value of learning from its expertise.
In April, Aleksey Andreev, Russia's trade representative in Morocco, said Moscow is ready to support African countries in developing technologies that promote self-sufficiency and sovereignty. Russia offers 'not only software products, but an ecosystem of digital solutions that guarantee technological sovereignty and growth,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
10 hours ago
- Russia Today
US gov't ditches Musk's AI over ‘anti-Semitism'
The US government has dropped Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok from a planned federal technology program following controversy over anti-Semitic content and conspiracy theories produced by the bot, Wired reported on Thursday. Grok, developed by Musk's AI startup xAI, is built into his social media platform X. It offers fact checks, quick context on trending topics, and replies to user arguments. Musk has promoted xAI as a rival to OpenAI and Google's DeepMind, but the chatbot has faced criticism over offensive and inflammatory outputs. According to the report, xAI was in advanced talks with the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency in charge of US government tech procurement, to give federal workers access to its AI tools. Grok had already been added to the GSA's long-term procurement list, enabling agencies to buy it. Earlier this month, the GSA announced partnerships with other AI providers – Anthropic, Google's Gemini, and Box's AI-powered content platform – while reportedly also telling staff to remove xAI's Grok from the offering. Two GSA employees told Wired they believe the chatbot was dropped over its anti-Semitic tirade last month, when it praised Adolf Hitler and called itself 'MechaHitler.' The posts were deleted, and xAI apologized for the 'horrific behavior,' pledging to block hate speech before Grok goes live. The bot also pushed the 'white genocide' conspiracy theory and echoed Holocaust denial rhetoric, which xAI blamed on unauthorized prompt changes. This week, it was briefly suspended from X after stating that Israel and the US were committing genocide in Gaza – allegations both countries reject. Musk has continued to praise the chatbot, recently writing: 'East, West, @Grok is the best.' The move to drop Grok comes as part of a broader push by the administration of US President Donald Trump to modernize the federal government under an action plan unveiled last month that provides for less regulation and wider adoption of AI. However, the rapid growth of AI has triggered concern about its potential to spread misinformation, reinforce bias, and operate without accountability. Experts say that unless strong safeguards are in place, poorly moderated AI tools could also expose children to harmful or inappropriate content.
Russia Today
14 hours ago
- Russia Today
UN rejects parallel government in Sudan
The UN Security Council has rejected the announcement by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regarding the formation of a parallel governing authority in territories under their control. Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with both factions vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule. 'The members of the Security Council unequivocally reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan,' the UN's press service reported on Wednesday. The UN called on both sides 'to resume talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and create the necessary conditions for a political resolution on the conflict.' The statement noted Resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF lift its siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in and around the city, where famine and severe food insecurity are at risk of spreading rapidly. Wednesday's announcement comes after a Sudanese political bloc, allied with the RSF, declared a parallel government in July. The Sudan Founding Alliance named RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as chairman of a 15-member presidential council that includes regional governors. Last month, the African Union, Arab League, and Saudi Arabia also condemned the RSF for declaring a rival government. The African Union's Peace and Security Council warned the move could deepen Sudan's two-year civil war between the RSF and the national army, urging states and the international community not to recognize the parallel administration. The SAF has denounced the 'so-called militia government' as a ploy by the RSF to deceive its allies, while its true intent is to seize power for personal gain. The Arab League called the move a 'blatant challenge' to the Sudanese people's will and an attempt to impose a fait accompli by force, warning it posed a serious threat to regional stability.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Two million illegal firearms circulate in South Africa
South African opposition party Rise Mzansi has warned that an estimated two million illegal firearms are in circulation across the country, posing a serious threat to public safety. The party has criticised the South African Police Service (SAPS) for failing to track the specific makes of firearms used in crimes properly, a shortfall it says undermines crime analysis and detection efforts. In a written parliamentary reply to Rise Mzansi, the Minister of Police revealed that SAPS's Enhanced Firearms Register System (EFRS) does not capture the specific makes of firearms, only their types, such as handguns, shotguns, or rifles. This means the system was unable to identify weapons like the AK-47s, Norincos, or AKMs, all of which have reportedly been used in violent crimes across South Africa. Rise Mzansi Member of Parliament and National Assembly Caucus Whip, Makashule Gana, said the lack of detailed firearm data hampers the country's ability to track and remove illegal weapons from communities. 'Currently, the data provided in the EFRS can only differentiate in terms of firearm types (handgun, shotgun or rifle), not makes (AK47, Norinco, AKM),' the Minister of Police stated in response to the party's questions. Rise Mzansi submitted a series of questions to the Minister in an attempt to determine how prevalent the AK-47 is in the commission of crimes, citing widespread reports of the weapon's use in violent incidents, including cash-in-transit heists, political killings, and mass shootings. The AK-47 is prohibited under the South African Firearms Control Act, yet continues to appear at crime scenes, said Gana. 'These guns should not be on the streets!' Gana said, warning that an estimated two million illegal firearms are circulating in South Africa. 'None of us is safe,' he said. The party has called on SAPS to boost its crime intelligence capacity and develop systems to identify and confiscate illegal weapons more effectively. It has also urged the government to expand national firearms amnesties and introduce an anonymous reward system for tip-offs about illegal firearms. Gana stressed the need for harsh consequences for those involved in the illegal firearm trade. He also raised concerns about police officers being implicated in the theft and resale of confiscated guns, some of which have been linked to murders and gang violence. 'The negligent loss of a SAPS-issued firearm must be a dismissible offence, for which senior SAPS officers must be held accountable. ''Between 1 October 2023 and 31 March 2024, SAPS reported the loss or theft of 371 firearms and 29,128 rounds of ammunition,'' Gana said. Rise Mzansi has vowed to raise the issue at the next available meeting of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on published by IOL
