Minister Emma Theofelus’s Statement at the Convention Against Cybercrime Signing Ceremony

Minister of information and communication technology, National Convention Centre, Vietnam, Hanoi, 26 October 2025

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It is a great honour for me to be here today, representing the Republic of Namibia on behalf of our president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; the leader of a young yet pioneering nation on the south-western coast of Africa.

Pioneering, because Namibia has consistently demonstrated that everything good is possible. Not only are we proud to have our eighth administration led by a woman, but we are equally proud that this leadership is implementing policies with speed and precision; policies that serve not only the Namibian people but also contribute positively to the global community.

It is in this spirit of collaboration and solidarity that I stand before you today. Namibia joins the world stage with conviction and determination to confront the growing challenge of cybercrime. We come ready to partner with all nations of goodwill to build a safer, more secure, and more just digital world – united for the common good of humanity.

For Namibia, the signing of this convention could not have come at a better time. We are currently in the process of drafting our national cybercrime bill, and this convention provides us with a strong and forward-looking framework upon which to build.

As many of you may know, Namibia is a child of international solidarity. Our independence was achieved through the concerted efforts of the international community under the auspices of the United Nations. Our forebears petitioned the world to hear the cry of a people suffering under colonial occupation and apartheid, and the world listened. It is therefore fitting that, today, Namibia once again joins the international community; this time, in solidarity against a new and complex form of threat – cybercrime.

Namibia aims to be among the first countries to ratify this convention and to transpose its provisions into our forthcoming cybercrime bill, which will be tabled before parliament next year.

Moreover, Namibia aspires to build specialised skills and institutional capacity in cybersecurity. We intend to leverage the mechanisms and platforms provided by this convention to strengthen our systems, enhance digital resilience, and empower our citizens to thrive in the digital age.

We fully align ourselves with the ethos of this convention – international cooperation, mutual assistance, respect for human rights, and the protection of privacy and data. Namibia proudly contributed to the drafting process and remains committed to upholding the values and principles enshrined in the final text.

Cybercrime knows no borders. If the systems of our neighbours are compromised, the security of our citizens is equally at risk. In the digital era, a neighbour can be ten thousand kilometres away – yet only a single click apart.

Recognising this, the government of the Republic of Namibia established the Namibia Computer Incident Response Team last year to strengthen our national capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber incidents. This initiative marks a significant step in our broader effort to build a secure and trusted digital environment.

Namibia stands ready, today and every day, to work with all partners around the world to bring the spirit and objectives of this convention to life. As I leave this stage, I extend an open invitation to all nations represented here to collaborate with us in this noble endeavour.

Allow me to conclude with the timeless words of our founding president, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma:

“A united people, striving to achieve a common good for all members of the society, will always emerge victorious.”

Let us, therefore, remain united in our pursuit of a safe, inclusive, and resilient digital future for all humanity.

Thank you.

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