Sponsors: Democratic Republic of Congo
Signatories: [To be added]
Agenda: Combating Transnational Cybercrime and Dark Web Illicit Trade
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
Recalling the United Nations Group of Experts reports on the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, which highlight how digital platforms and illicit online marketplaces enable the
laundering of proceeds from natural resource exploitation and armed group activity, posing
threats to peace and security in conflict-affected regions,
Noting with deep concern the persistence of jurisdictional gaps and fragmented cybercrime
legislation among Member States, which significantly impede timely investigations, mutual
legal assistance, and effective prosecution of transnational cyber-enabled crimes,
Recognizing the legislative and regulatory efforts undertaken by Member States, including
the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Digital Code (Ordinance-Law No. 23/010), while
acknowledging that rapid technological evolution necessitates continuous capacity-building
and international cooperation,
Acknowledging the institutional strengthening efforts of national regulatory authorities,
including transitions aimed at expanding mandates over information and communication
technologies, and emphasizing the need for technical assistance in cyber enforcement and
blockchain forensics,
Alarmed by the escalation of ransomware, illicit cryptocurrency use, and Dark Web–enabled
financial crime, which undermine sovereignty, economic stability, and public trust while
exploiting regulatory asymmetries between developed and developing states,
Emphasizing the complementary roles of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in
coordinating operational assistance, policy evaluation, and trust-building among Member
States,
1. Encourages African Union (AU) Member States to pursue voluntary harmonization
of cybercrime legislation, drawing on regional best practices and UNODC guidance,
with the aim of reducing jurisdictional loopholes exploited by transnational criminal
networks;
2. Calls upon the UNODC to develop a regional Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)
facilitation framework for Africa, including model procedures and designated contact
points, to accelerate cooperation while respecting domestic legal systems;
3. Requests UNODC to establish a Sovereignty-Safe Data Sharing Framework, ensuring
that cross-border intelligence and digital evidence exchanges:
a) operate on consent-based mechanisms,
b) employ secure encryption standards,
c) respect national privacy laws and due process guarantees;
4. Invites CCPCJ to conduct periodic peer reviews on data protection and evidence-
sharing practices, with findings used to enhance transparency, trust, and voluntary
compliance;
5. Welcomes pilot bilateral and regional cooperation initiatives among African states,
including information-sharing arrangements, as confidence-building models adaptable
to broader regional use;
6. Supports the convening of an annual Africa Cyber Capacity and Technology
Dialogue, facilitated by UNODC, bringing together Member States, relevant private-
sector actors, and technical experts to enhance cooperation against Dark Web–enabled
crime;
7. Encourages the formation of public–private coordination mechanisms, under
UNODC oversight, to enable lawful intelligence sharing, early detection of illicit
online marketplaces, and coordinated disruption efforts;
8. Recommends that internet service providers, in accordance with domestic law, adopt
risk-based monitoring approaches to detect patterns indicative of illicit Dark Web
activity while safeguarding freedom of expression and privacy rights;
9. Supports the adoption of risk-based and proportionate cryptocurrency regulation
frameworks, consistent with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
recommendations, that:
a) target high-risk actors and transactions,
b) preserve legitimate remittance flows,
c) promote financial inclusion in developing economies;
10. Calls upon Member States to strengthen financial intelligence cooperation and
reporting mechanisms for suspicious virtual asset activity, in coordination with
national financial intelligence units;
11. Recognizes the legitimate role of cryptocurrencies and digital financial tools in
facilitating remittances, innovation, and economic participation, particularly in
regions with limited banking access;
12. Encourages the UNODC, in consultation with Member States, to develop guidance
on addressing ransomware-related payments, including risk indicators associated with
anonymity-enhancing technologies, without imposing blanket prohibitions;
13. Invites the FTAF to continue assessing emerging risks associated with virtual asset
service providers, including mixing and anonymization services, through inclusive
and consultative processes;
14. Calls for the establishment of an Africa Asset Recovery and Cyber Capacity
Initiative, coordinated by the UNODC, to support:
a) Asset-tracing and recovery,
b) Victim restitution,
c) Training and technical assistance for developing states;
15. Requests the UNODC to expand partnerships with blockchain analytics and
cybersecurity providers to provide training and investigative tools to interested
African Member States;
16. Invites the UNODC and the CCPCJ to jointly produce an Annual Dark Web and
Cybercrime Impact Assessment for Africa, tracking trends in enforcement
cooperation, asset recovery, and capacity gaps;
17. Encourages Member States to contribute data voluntarily to support the assessment,
with regional coordination facilitated through UNODC mechanisms;
18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit biennial implementation reports to the
General Assembly evaluating progress, challenges, and recommendations for
strengthening international cooperation against Dark Web-enabled transnational
crime.