Casablanca – GITEX Africa Morocco 2026 is just around the corner, and organizers reveal they will introduce a new cybersecurity forum this year as the event expands its focus on protecting digital infrastructure across the continent.
The Strategic Digital Defence AI Readiness Summit, known as the STAR Summit, will be held during the upcoming edition of the technology expo in Marrakech from April 7 to April 9. The initiative has government support, organized in partnership with Morocco’s General Directorate for Information Systems Security (DGSSI)
The new summit aims to bring together government officials, cybersecurity authorities, and industry leaders from across Africa to discuss the growing risks facing digital systems. Organizers say the gathering will focus on strengthening digital resilience, protecting critical infrastructure, and addressing cyber threats increasingly powered by artificial intelligence.
According to the DGSSI, the rapid expansion of digital technologies has created new vulnerabilities that governments and businesses must confront.
“The unprecedented pace of global digital transformation has—albeit unintentionally—elevated cybersecurity to one of humanity’s most profound challenges, compelling nations to stay ahead of the curve to protect their economies, institutions, industries, and citizens,” said Brigadier General Abdellah Boutrig, Director General of the DGSSI.
Boutrig warned that cyber threats across the continent have grown in both scale and sophistication.
“We are witnessing an increasingly industrialised threat landscape across Africa: massive-scale cyberattacks, financial losses amounting to billions, and organised, cyber-enabled fraud at levels never seen before,” he said.
He added that the collaboration between DGSSI and GITEX Africa Morocco aims to strengthen preparedness against these threats.
“This is why, through the DGSSI’s collaboration with GITEX AFRICA Morocco on the STAR Summit, we are advancing practical readiness for a new era of threat mitigation. This effort is essential—because cyber resilience is no longer a technical ambition, but a national security imperative for all.”
Cybersecurity leaders gather in Marrakech
The summit will take place live on the GITEX Africa Morocco main stage on Wednesday, April 8. It will feature discussions on cybersecurity governance, investment needs, skills shortages, and the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Speakers will also examine real-world cybercrime incidents and explore how governments and private sector organizations can respond to increasingly complex attacks.
Confirmed participants include senior cybersecurity officials and industry experts from several countries. Among them are Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the Government of the United Arab Emirates, Divine Selase Agbeti, Director General of Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, David Kanamugire, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda’s National Cyber Security Authority, and Tigist Hamid Mohammed, Director General of Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Administration.
Private sector cybersecurity leaders will also participate, including Justin Williams, Group Chief Information Security Officer at MTN Group in South Africa, and Amit Ghodekar, Global Chief Information Security Officer at logistics company Aramex in the United Arab Emirates.
Critical timing
Trixie LohMirmand, Chief Executive Officer of KAOUN International – the parent company of GITEX – says the STAR summit comes at a critical time in which strengthening cyber resilience has become essential as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand.
“As Africa’s digital economy matures, strengthening cyber resilience is imperative for nurturing socio-economic prosperity and safeguarding citizens, public services, and national security frameworks,” she said.
“In partnership with the Moroccan DGSSI, STAR Summit reflects our shared ambition to amplify Africa’s digital potential, accelerate secure progress, and empower governments, enterprises, and innovators to confidently navigate an evolving AI-driven threat landscape.”
Beyond the summit itself, GITEX Africa 2026 will also feature an expanded cybersecurity exhibition area. Technology companies and distributors specializing in digital security will present solutions designed to protect critical infrastructure and enterprise systems.
Among the exhibitors are cybersecurity firms such as Kaspersky, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and Forcepoint. Satellite connectivity provider Starlink and cybersecurity distributor CyberKnight Technologies will also participate.
GITEX Africa Morocco returns for its fourth edition to Marrakech as the largest and most prominent tech gathering on the continent. Held under the authority of Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the event is organized by KAOUN International in partnership with the Digital Development Agency. The annual expo brings together technology companies, investors, policymakers, and startups to explore innovation and digital development across Africa.
Read also: GITEX Africa 2026 Set to Drive the Continent’s Digital Future
