Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the Republic of Algeria, Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defense, chaired Wednesday 7th June 2023, the opening of the national seminar entitled: “National Cyber Security Strategy for a Cyber-Resilient Algeria”, organized by the Ministry of National Defense, at the National Army Circle in Béni-Messous, Algiers.

On his arrival, President of the Republic was welcomed by General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of People’s National Army (PNA), where a military formation paid him honors, the Algerian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The seminar was attended by the Algerian Prime Minister, the Director of Cabinet and the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, the Adviser to the President of the Republic, in charge of Defense and Security Affairs, Government members, Her Excellency Ambassador Fouzia Boumaiza Mebarki, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations in Geneva, General Officers from the Ministry of National Defense and from PNA General Staff, senior officials of the State, national personalities, as well as experts and specialists.

On this occasion, the President of the Republic delivered the opening speech of the seminar, in which he underlined that the requirements of national security imply the development of an integrated national strategy in the digital field:

“The identification of cyber threats and the implementation of effective control and detection mechanisms, as well as the readiness of a strategy in eventual risk, constitute today the main prospective requirements to ensure the complete required security for vital infrastructures in a safe and permanent way. This comes within the framework of the system for taking charge of national security, in its political, military, economic and societal dimensions, and even technological, which involves the development of our national strategy integrated in the digital field, the combination of prospective and prevention aspects against cybernetic space threats, the protection of systems and data, the promotion of a digital citizen and a patriotic culture based on ongoing awareness, as well as strategic monitoring of all the institutions.”

The President of the Republic added that cyber security is a challenge that cannot be won without the development of a competent and experienced human resources:

“Winning the challenge of cyber security is an undertaking that is essentially based on the development of human resources which possess experienced skills and aware of the vitality of the missions assigned to them. An objective to which we attach extreme utmost within the framework of the State vision's in order to achieve a qualitative leap in the management of public affairs, through the implementation of the foundations of a national strategy designed for the digital domain. This was our sovereign choice, driven by our collective awareness that the growth of the expected development requires good governance, the improvement of the performance of institutions, the enhancement of potential and the mobilization of resources.”

“Digitization, which the realization has always been at the heart of my interests, is not limited solely to technical aspect; it is an anchored conviction, which is at the top of the priorities for the construction of New Algeria,” he added.

For his part, General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of PNA, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the President of the Republic, while congratulating him on the great diplomatic victory achieved by Algeria following his election, by an overwhelming majority, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council:

“I am pleased on this occasion to address to the President of the Republic, Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defense, my warm and sincere congratulations for the great diplomatic victory that Algeria has just achieved following his election by an overwhelming majority by the UN General Assembly, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the period 2024-2025.”

“This victory reflects, once again, the esteem of the international community for Algeria and its diplomacy known for its frank and unwavering positions, and demonstrates the relevance of the forward-looking vision of the President, for the establishment of peace and security in the world, and the resolution of various conflicts and international issues through peaceful means,” General Chanegriha added.

He further emphasized Algeria’s awareness of the importance of cyber security, which has now become an absolute necessity, to deal with all the threats that target sensitive and vital systems of the State:

“Algeria is fully aware of the importance of cyber security, which has now become an absolute necessity, to deal with all forms of risks and threats targeting sensitive and vital systems of the State, in a prospective and preventive logic.

In order to counter these threats, it is imperative to show vigilance, and it is essential for all the concerned parties, civil and military alike, to combine efforts and ensure the sharing of the technical means used, in relying, moreover, on Algerian, local skills and those established abroad, and by working to master cyberspace at different levels, particularly in terms of infrastructure, software and national content, in a sovereign logic and a long-term strategic perspective,”

On the sidelines of this seminar, the President of the Republic held a meeting with experts and professors, during which he stressed the need to attach extreme importance to this sensitive area in order to win the challenges related to cyber security, in order to guarantee the consolidation of national security and defense.

On his departure, President of the Republic, Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defense was greeted by General, Chief of Staff of PNA, where a military formation honored the President of the Republic.

It should be noted that this important seminar addressed the importance of strengthening cyber security in the light of new developments in the digital field. Its objectives are to draw up an inventory of the Algerian digital landscape and the threats weighing on national computer systems, to define the major axes for the development of a national strategy for the security of computer systems, and to highlight the importance of providing mechanisms for the protection of vital infrastructures, and of consolidating cyber resilience, in addition to international cooperation and cyber geopolitics, the partnership between the public and private sectors and the building of capacities in this area.

The seminar also addressed the various aspects of this theme, which constitutes a collective responsibility, to come up with recommendations and proposals, making possible to counter the various risks and threats present in cyberspace, through the involvement of all the concerned actors. (Source & Photo © Algerian Ministry of Defense)