Africa Tech Festival (ATF), the continent’s leading digital innovation platform, will take place from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Cape Town, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and cloud resilience, organisers said on Friday.
The festival, now in its 28th edition, brings together technology leaders, policymakers, investors, startups, and visionaries to explore Africa’s expanding digital economy. This year’s programme will address critical topics including responsible innovation, inclusive investment, connectivity for development, and policy harmonisation.
Cybercrime is on the rise across Africa, driven by rapid digital adoption and mobile internet reliance. Reports indicate that most African countries lack robust cybersecurity infrastructure, with only 30% maintaining incident reporting systems, 29% operating digital evidence repositories, and 19% running cyberthreat intelligence databases. Threats such as phishing, online scams, business email compromise, and ransomware continue to escalate.
“Cybersecurity is no longer an individual concern for organisations; it’s a shared responsibility across all sectors,” said Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival. “ATF is where Africa’s digital leaders come together to tackle these challenges head-on and shape a secure, inclusive future.”
Highlighted sessions include the keynote fireside chat “State of Cybersecurity in Africa: Threats, Gaps & Opportunities” on 11 November, examining regional preparedness and strategies for strengthening response capabilities and regulatory frameworks. Another session, “The Quantum Threat Is Now: Rethinking Encryption Before It’s Too Late”, will explore risks posed by quantum computing to current encryption standards.
On 12 November, ATF will host “Empowering Women in Cybersecurity: Breaking Barriers and Building Leadership”, spotlighting female leaders in technical, operational, and policy roles and discussing strategies for improving inclusion across the cybersecurity workforce.
The festival also provides a platform for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and other experts to share case studies and best practices from diverse industries and regions, fostering cross-regional dialogue and collaboration.
Africa Tech Festival 2025 will feature over 500 speakers, 300 exhibitors, and four anchor events: AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and the AI Summit Cape Town, cementing its role as Africa’s premier gathering for technology and innovation leaders.
