Mozambique and Cyber Diplomacy in the Region

Alberto Mudjadju"

Given the growing importance of information and communication technologies and the pressing need to strengthen cybersecurity, Mozambique has been actively seeking to establish strategic partnerships to enhance its capabilities in this area. This article aims to highlight the relevance of cyber diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy and regional integration, showing how Mozambique's actions within SADC can contribute to the development of norms, policies, and mechanisms aimed at protecting critical infrastructure, mitigating digital threats, and strengthening cybersecurity stability in the region.Concern about digital security becomes even more relevant when observing the historical evolution of cyberspace. Before the creation of the Internet in 1969, and its global expansion with the development of the World Wide Web in 1991, cyberspace did not yet present vulnerabilities capable of placing states in a situation of digital interdependence. With the Internet, recognized as a revolutionary innovation that allows remote communication and automation of public systems and services, new threats also emerged: groups began to exploit the network to steal sensitive information, compromising the security and sovereignty of states. Therefore, the growing digital interdependence has made cyber diplomacy an indispensable tool for Mozambique and other SADC countries to coordinate efforts for the regional regulation of cybersecurity. Until 2009, SADC member countries had little involvement in issues related to cybersecurity, and cybersecurity matters were rarely discussed at community meetings. However, cooperation partners from the European Union (EU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) were fundamental in boosting concern about cybersecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Following this impetus, SADC began to advocate for the need for states to recognize and politicize cyber threats, understanding that they could compromise their sovereignty, that is,The emergence of cyberspace and the risks associated with it demonstrates that if a country wants to hold international power and guarantee its survival, security, and interests, it necessarily needs to develop cyber power. This shift highlights the need to adopt cyber diplomacy, understood as the application of diplomatic techniques and negotiations in international relations that address and regulate issues related to cyberspace. In an effort to regulate cybersecurity regionally, in 2022 SADC approved the Regional Cybersecurity Strategy 2022–2027 as an important step in the search for solutions for the defense of cyberspace, since cooperation and diplomacy have proven to be fundamental means of regulating cyberspace. Mozambique, as part of SADC, also grapples with this issue. Despite efforts to maintain and ensure cybersecurity, the absence of specific legislation and legal frameworks for cyberspace, and weak cyber diplomacy, limit its ability to defend it.As a way to improve cyberspace defense mechanisms andAs a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Mozambican Government recognizes the need to cooperate with this international organization for the implementation of the CERT (Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity Network) in the country and has actively participated in SADC, African Union and UN forums, contributing to debates on cybersecurity policies and serving on technical committees.Mozambique is one of the SADC countries that has recently suffered cyberattacks perpetrated by hackers. The country has experienced various attacks, notably brute-force, compromised, malware dissemination, scanning, defacement, and redefacement attacks. Currently, threats such as malware (malicious viruses), spam, worms, phishing, spyware, WEP key breaches (active and passive), network analysis, and DDoS attacks are frequent. These problems stem from the absence of robust strategies for cybersecurity defense. The weaknesses in Mozambique's cybersecurity systems, coupled with low investment in technological modernization and limited training of technical personnel, create a favorable environment for cybercriminals. These weaknesses create national insecurity in public administration and private companies, affecting both the economy and the privacy of citizens. Another contributing factor to these attacks is weak cyber diplomacy and the delay in creating regional cybersecurity regulations at the SADC level.Given this scenario, it is observed that, despite the growing recognition of cyber threats and regional cooperation initiatives within SADC, challenges persist related to policy harmonization, trust-building among states, and strengthening institutional capacities to address such threats. Currently, a large part of communications, economic activities, and decision-making processes occur in cyberspace, making it simultaneously strategic and vulnerable. The threats that emerge in this environment transcend national borders, demonstrating that no state, acting in isolation, can fully guarantee cybersecurity.An exhaustive study on this topic is pertinent given the observation that the profound transformations caused by the increasing use of digital technologies in relations between States have forced them to resort to cyber diplomacy as an alternative means of responding to the constant threats of cyberspace, and the desire to understand how Mozambique's use of cyber diplomacy can contribute to the regulation of cybersecurity at the SADC level.

2025/12/3