Agadir Hosts 2nd International Congress on Security Governance, Innovation and Development in Africa, with Participation from 28 Countries

The city of Agadir is preparing to host the second edition of the International Congress on Security Governance, Innovation and Development in Africa (CIGSIDA 2026), from November 2 to 5, 2026, at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences of Ibn Zohr University. This international scientific and institutional event aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on security, governance, innovation and development issues across the African continent.

The event is expected to attract broad international participation from 28 countries, as well as more than 24 national universities and institutes, in addition to experts, academics, officials and professionals representing national, regional and international institutions. This further consolidates Agadir’s position as a forum for scientific and intellectual exchange on the security and development challenges facing Africa.

According to information released by the organizers, this edition will feature experts from several United Nations entities and programmes, including the Department of Peace Operations, the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Unit, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), as well as experts specializing in security sector reform.

The congress is also expected to bring together representatives of the African Union, international networks and Moroccan security institutions, along with researchers and practitioners from various fields, to exchange experiences and practices and discuss ways to develop public policies related to security and sustainable development.

Eight scientific sessions on security challenges and digital transformation

The congress’s scientific programme comprises eight thematic sessions devoted to security governance, justice, public leadership and people-centred security, as well as strengthening institutional capacities and developing skills.

Other sessions will focus on digital transformation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence—strategic fields that present new challenges for security and administrative institutions while opening up prospects for modernizing public administration and risk prevention.

This focus offers an opportunity to examine the relationship between technological development and security requirements, particularly in the face of the growing threat of cross-border cyberattacks and the need to build African security systems capable of adapting to international change.

A platform for scientific research and developing African skills

The congress is not limited to scientific sessions and institutional debates. It will also feature academic presentations and research papers, workshops for doctoral students, an executive training programme, and the “Academy GSIDA Challenge” initiative, which seeks to foster skills and talent and showcase innovative initiatives.

These activities aim to bring universities, public institutions and professional stakeholders closer together and provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, thereby contributing to the development of applied scientific research and strengthening its links with the real-world challenges facing African societies.

An international innovation and security exhibition in Agadir

Alongside the congress, the city will host the ASIDEX 2026 exhibition from November 2 to 6 at the Agadir Beach Tourist Information Centre.

The exhibition is expected to bring together 15 exhibitors and attract more than 2,000 professional visitors, providing a space to showcase innovative solutions and modern technologies and to promote the exchange of experience among institutions, professionals and stakeholders in the security and innovation sectors.

Holding the exhibition in parallel with the congress will help strengthen the complementarity between academic research and practical applications, while opening up new prospects for partnership and cooperation.

Agadir strengthens its scientific and international profile

Agadir’s hosting of this event is particularly significant amid growing African and international interest in security governance and the related challenges of development, stability and digital transformation.

The congress also provides an opportunity to enhance the scientific profile of Ibn Zohr University and consolidate Agadir’s position among the Moroccan cities attracting international scientific events, while highlighting the role of universities in producing knowledge and contributing to strategic debates on the future of the African continent.

The organizers intend to make this edition a milestone in deepening cooperation among researchers, experts and decision-makers and in developing more inclusive security approaches that take human rights, people’s needs and the requirements of sustainable development into account.

Agadir is thus preparing to host an international event that brings together scientific research, institutional dialogue and technological innovation around a shared vision: helping to build a safer, more inclusive and more prosperous Africa.