ADDIS ABABA, April 17 (Xinhua) — The African Union (AU) has called on African countries to build capabilities in cyberspace as countries face increasing cyber threats.

The call was made during a cyber diplomacy-themed workshop that brought together representatives of diplomatic missions of the AU member states at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on April 15-16, the AU said in a press statement issued Wednesday.

Calixte Aristide Mbari, head of the Division of Democracy, Elections and Constitutionalism at the AU Commission, said African countries need to exert concerted efforts to tackle the challenges faced in cyberspace.

“We are witnessing cyberspace increasingly becoming a new ground for geopolitical competition and sometimes attacks against national security,” an AU statement quoted Mbari as saying.

According to the AU, the main objectives of the workshop were to initiate an entry point for cyber diplomacy efforts at the AU, raise awareness of existing cyber threats and key cybersecurity priorities, and initiate discussions among the diplomatic community on the nature and extent of the threat.

Noting that African countries are increasingly facing cyber threats and challenges, the 55-member continental organization said Africa has developed the AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, which was adopted by African leaders back in 2014.