• Madagascar launched the process to draft its national cybersecurity strategy.
• Authorities aim to finalize the framework within three months.
• The strategy will update a cybersecurity law adopted in 2014.

Madagascar continues to structure its digital ecosystem after creating a national cybersecurity body in 2023. Authorities now focus on establishing a legal and strategic framework to protect systems and data amid rising cybercrime.

The Malagasy government formally launched the process to develop its national cybersecurity strategy last week following a kickoff workshop held in Antananarivo.

The event brought together public authorities, digital experts and technical partners. Officials presented the initiative as a key step toward securing the country’s digital space as digital usage expands across public administration, financial services and the broader economy.

“The stakeholders committed to finalizing this national cybersecurity strategy within three months,” said Eric Nirina Rakotomaniraka, head of the digital incident response team at the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT).

He said the strategy will address key areas, including online child protection, combating gender-based cyber violence, digital justice, and international cooperation in cases of cyberattacks or data breaches.

On an operational level, the future strategy aims to structure cyber incident prevention, detection and response.

The document plans to strengthen national digital forensic capabilities, improve coordination between public institutions and private-sector actors, and support local skills development. Authorities also intend to use the strategy as a foundation to update the regulatory framework, as the 2014 cybersecurity law increasingly fails to reflect evolving technologies and threats.

The initiative comes as digital usage expands but information systems remain fragile. According to the Digital 2025 report, Madagascar counted approximately 6.6 million internet users in 2025, representing just over 20% of the population, a level that remains modest but continues to rise steadily.

At the same time, Madagascar faces limited cybersecurity capacity. The International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 ranks the country in Tier 4 out of five.

This classification reflects significant gaps, particularly in technical infrastructure, institutional coordination, skills development and international cooperation.

Authorities expect the national cybersecurity strategy to strengthen protection of digital infrastructure, increase citizen and investor confidence in digital services, and support Madagascar’s broader digital transformation.

By laying the foundations for stronger digital sovereignty, the government aims to create a safer environment for innovation, online public services and the country’s integration into regional and global digital ecosystems.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum