IVORY COAST · CYBERSECURITY
Published Wednesday, 28 October, 5:16 p.m. ET · Source: ANSSI-CI, Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation
Key Facts
- Event CYBER.EX 2026, Ivory Coast's first national cyber-crisis simulation, began Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and continues through Thursday, October 29.
- Location The exercise is being held at the Radisson Blu hotel in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- Organizer ANSSI-CI, the National Agency for Information Systems Security, organized the event under the Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation.
- Participants More than 800 executives, technical experts, lawyers, communications specialists, and students are expected to take part.
National Simulation Begins
Ivory Coast opened its first national cyber-crisis simulation on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Radisson Blu in Abidjan. The two-day exercise, called CYBER.EX 2026, is designed to test how the country would respond to a major digital attack on critical infrastructure.
The event is organized by ANSSI-CI, the National Agency for Information Systems Security, which operates under the Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation. More than 800 participants are expected, including executives, chief information-security officers, IT directors, lawyers, communications specialists, and students.
Testing Banks And Energy
The simulation focuses on three strategic sectors: energy, information and communications technology, and finance. The exercise is structured to run from initial detection of a simulated attack through recovery of affected systems.
Executives will work in crisis cells, make decisions under pressure, and oversee continuity of operations. Technical teams will investigate the incident, contain the threat, and apply corrective measures on a dedicated training platform.
The exercise includes a component called Cyber Crise Exécutive for 60 decision-makers and a Cyber Crise Technique for approximately 200 specialists. About 100 students from 10 universities and grandes écoles will compete in a Capture the Flag event.
Official Statements
ANSSI-CI presents CYBER.EX as the country's first national cyber-crisis simulation. The agency says the exercise is intended to strengthen national prevention, crisis-management, and response capabilities.
Colonel Aly Samassi, the exercise's scientific-committee chair, said the simulations would occur in an isolated environment dedicated to simulation. He said they would not interfere with participating organizations' operational information systems.
Authorities describe the event as part of implementing Ivory Coast's National Cybersecurity Strategy. That strategy includes the planned development and operationalization of a national cyber-crisis-management plan.
US Business Angle
For US companies and banks operating in Abidjan, the exercise signals that Ivorian authorities are prioritizing coordination between government and private-sector critical infrastructure operators. The finance sector's inclusion means international banks with local operations are likely among the organizations testing their crisis-response procedures.
The event also highlights a growing market for cybersecurity services and training in francophone West Africa. ANSSI-CI was created in 2024 and is responsible for coordinating responses to cyber crises and cooperation among public bodies, private organizations, and international partners.
What It Means for US Readers
US banks and companies with operations in Abidjan should view this exercise as a signal that Ivorian regulators are formalizing cyber-incident response expectations. The inclusion of the finance sector suggests that international financial institutions operating locally may face increasing pressure to demonstrate tested crisis-management capabilities.
The exercise also points to commercial opportunities for US cybersecurity vendors and service providers. ANSSI-CI is building out a national response framework, and the Cyber Village exhibition area is explicitly designed to connect solution providers with organizations seeking digital protection.
What Is Not Known
The exact start and end times for each day, expressed in GMT/UTC+0, have not been published in the available reports. The names of all participating organizations, officials, private companies, and foreign or international partners have not been disclosed.
The simulated attack vector, malware or threat actor, affected systems, injects, success criteria, and adjudication methodology remain undisclosed. It is unclear whether all three sectors are participating in a single interconnected scenario or in separate sector-specific scenarios.
No results, identified weak spots, lessons learned, or remedial commitments had been publicly released in the sources available as of October 28. The available reporting does not establish that any real government, financial, energy, or telecommunications system was breached.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CYBER.EX 2026?
The exercise involves more than 800 participants from the energy, ICT, and finance sectors, including executives, technical experts, and students.
Who is organizing the exercise?
ANSSI-CI was created in 2024 and is responsible for coordinating responses to cyber crises and cooperation among public bodies, private organizations, and international partners.
Sources: ANSSI-CI, Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation.
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