A digital laboratory designed to fight cybercrime was officially handed over to the Gambian authorities on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 in Banjul. It is the fruit of a joint project between ECOWAS and the European Union.

The Gambia's new laboratory aims to contribute to improving cyber security and fighting cybercrime in West Africa. This tool will help strengthen the operational capacities of structures in charge of digital forensic investigations. A statement issued on Tuesday, October 18, by the West African organization mentions that “by handing over this brand-new laboratory to the Gambian authorities, ECOWAS and its partners hope to provide more capacity to the Gambian police to effectively combat cybercrime. in the country and better cooperate with other member states in managing cybercrime problems.”

The tool to combat cybercrime is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including forensic equipment (duplicator and forensic imager, forensic laptop computers, forensic workstation/server, etc.); generic hardware, software, and licenses.

In reality, The Gambia is facing a growing rise in cybercrime. In 2020, the country was facing a series of computer incidents, including attacks on financial institutions, revenge pornography, and the distribution of nude photos of people on the Internet.