Browsing by Author "Kinnes, Shaun"

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Africa’s agency in the competing narratives of external partners in Africa’s digital market A comparison of Japan and China
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Kinnes, Shaun; Rubidge, Laura
According to United Nations reports, Africa’s economic growth potential is among the highest in the world. It is thus unsurprising that many global powers have turned their attention to the continent, often motivated by the opportunity to help Africa ‘leapfrog’ infrastructure challenges through funding the innovative application of information and communication technologies (ICTs). As the global competition for Africa’s economic growth and, more specifically, Africa’s digital sector heats up, understanding Africa’s interests and agency within these negotiations becomes increasingly pertinent. This article explores some of the competing narratives provided by external states that seek a stake in the development of Africa’s profitable digital market. The article employs Lesley Masters’ (2021) digital diplomacy lens defined as ‘a means of navigating the evolving international digital governance regime and negotiating a more even playing field to address the inequalities in the international structure’. The article compares and contrasts the narratives that are framed by two ‘competitors’, namely China and Japan. These two states are expected to become significant players in the development of Africa’s digital market; China has become one of the most important funders in ICT networks in the global South and Japan’s recent pledge of $30 billion in aid to Africa includes the digital technology sector.
To What Extent Have Cyber Sabotage and Cyber Espionage Undermined the National Security of South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, 2016- 22
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kinnes, Shaun; Mpofu-Walsh, Sizwe
The state of cyber security in Africa presents a diverse and evolving landscape, with the continent possessing pockets of resilience, instead of a common agreed upon and ratified framework. This research report aims to highlight the state of cyber security in Africa, delving into legislative frameworks, cyber protocols, and responses. The world is changing, and with this change comes disruption, and disruption ultimately needs planning, you’re either at the table or on the menu. The report utilises South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia as case study countries to drive analysis into the disruptions and threats posed to the cyber landscape. The sophistication of cyber threats, which include ransomware and fraud coupled with disparities in cyber security capabilities across sectors and countries persist across the continent. Cybercrimes and cyber sabotage in the case of South Africa draw upon the close correlation between macroeconomic stability and cyber security, while geo-political tensions such as in the case studies of Kenya and Ethiopia show how states have begun a flirtation with cyber tools with the objective of pursuing foreign policy objectives.