At the opening of the Scientific Colloquium on Information and Communication Technologies ( COSTIC 2026 ), on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Abidjan, Brigadier General Guelpétchin Ouattara shared a strong vision: cybersecurity is the driving force behind digital sovereignty and sustainable development on the African continent.

The Director General of the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI), sponsor of this edition, immediately deconstructed preconceived ideas by demonstrating the unbreakable link between digital security and sustainability.

Protecting the present, anticipating the future: The main themes of the intervention

1. The security of vital infrastructure

For General Ouattara, sustainability cannot exist without resilience. With water, energy, and healthcare networks now interconnected and digitized, their protection has become a top priority. He also highlighted the importance of green IT , digital governance, and the robustness of institutions in the face of cyber threats.

2. The three pillars of sovereign cybersecurity

Information security is not simply about purchasing software or technological equipment. According to the head of ANSSI, it relies above all on "the quality of the minds that conceive of it." He thus defined three strategic pillars:

1. Scientific research: To design local solutions adapted to African realities, thus avoiding dependence on imported technologies.
2. Skills training: To build a pool of qualified and aware professionals.
3. Operational cybersecurity: To act effectively in the field.

"Every student engaged in a scientific endeavor today is a future professional serving the interests of the State."

— General Guelpétchin Ouattara

A strategic partnership between ANSSI and ESATIC

This vision is already translating into concrete actions. General Ouattara took the opportunity to highlight the long-standing collaboration between ANSSI and ESATIC (African Higher School of ICT), the institution that initiated the symposium. He notably announced that several "structuring projects" are currently underway between the two institutions to strengthen the national digital ecosystem.

About COSTIC 2026

COSTIC 2026 takes place over three days around a central theme: "Digital technology at the service of sustainable development in Africa" . The conference brings together a large community of experts, researchers, companies and students.

The conference in figures

Indicator	Volume / Themes
Event duration	3 days
Submitted projects	650 submissions received
Selected projects	82 scientific communications
Key areas covered	Artificial intelligence, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, Intelligent systems, Responsible digital transformation

The scientific committee, chaired by Professor Adama Coulibaly , ensured that the most rigorous contributions were selected to address the major digital challenges facing the continent.