Digital Governance, Cybersecurity Risks, and Public Administration in Africa: Emerging Challenges, Institutional Responses, and Policy Implications

Abstract Digital governance has transformed public administration by improving service delivery, transparency, accountability, administrative efficiency, and citizen engagement. However, increasing reliance on digital systems has exposed African public institutions to cybersecurity risks, including ransomware, phishing, malware, data breaches, identity theft, cyber espionage, and disruption of critical services. This study examines the relationship between digital governance, cybersecurity risks, and public administration in Africa, with emphasis on institutional challenges and policy responses. Guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) Framework and Institutional Theory, the study adopts a qualitative documentary research design. Data were drawn from peer-reviewed journal articles, government publications, policy documents, reports of international organizations, and other credible secondary sources, and were analysed thematically. The study finds that digital governance has improved administrative efficiency, financial management, transparency, accountability, and access to public services across several African countries. However, these gains remain vulnerable to inadequate cybersecurity infrastructure, weak regulatory enforcement, limited technical expertise, insufficient funding, fragmented institutional coordination, outdated technological systems, and low cybersecurity awareness. The study further finds that stronger cybersecurity strategies, effective regulatory institutions, institutional coordination, and sustained investment in digital capacity enhance governmental resilience and public sector performance. It concludes that sustainable digital governance requires cybersecurity risk management to be integrated into public administration reforms. The study recommends strengthening cybersecurity policies and legal frameworks, investing in secure digital infrastructure and human capacity, institutionalizing enterprise risk management, improving incident response mechanisms, promoting regional cooperation, and enhancing continuous cybersecurity monitoring and public awareness. Keywords: Digital Governance; Cybersecurity; Public Administration; Africa; Cyber Resilience