Cyber and Intelligence Networks: Tackling Transnational Crime beyond Anglophone Barriers
Mots-clés :
French, Cybersecurity, Intelligence networks, Transnational crime, Anglophone–Francophone divide, Linguistic interoperabilityRésumé
The growing entanglement of cyberspace and transnational crime in West and Central Africa underscores the urgent need for robust, multilingual intelligence cooperation. While English remains the dominant language of global cyber operations, the predominance of French across Francophone Africa presents both a barrier and an opportunity for Nigeria and other Anglophone states engaged in countering cybercrime, terrorism financing, trafficking, and illicit digital economies. This article examines the role of French as a strategic linguistic tool in cyber and intelligence networks, emphasizing its potential to bridge operational gaps, enhance real-time information sharing, and strengthen interoperability among diverse national agencies. Drawing on case studies of regional security initiatives, intelligence-sharing platforms, and counter-cybercrime operations, the study argues that language is not merely a medium of communication but a critical component of cyber-sovereignty and transnational resilience. By situating French within broader debates on cyberdiplomacy, intelligence cooperation, and linguistic geopolitics, the article proposes a framework for integrating
language capacity-building into cyber defence strategies. The analysis concludes that overcoming Anglophone–Francophone linguistic divides is pivotal for dismantling criminal networks that exploit digital borders, and that cultivating bilingual intelligence infrastructures can serve as both a tactical and diplomatic resource in shaping Africa’s collective security future.
Références
Adeniran, A., & Okeke-Uzodike, U. (2021). Cybercrime and regional security in West Africa: Trends, challenges, and responses. African Security Review, 30(2), 157–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2021.1905583.
Aning, K., & Dzinesa, G. (2018). Security cooperation in Africa: A reassessment. Routledge.
Bamgbose, A. (2000). Language and exclusion: The consequences of language policies in Africa. LIT Verlag.
Banégas, R. (2020). Francophone Africa and the politics of regional security. Journal of Modern African Studies, 58(3), 355–374. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X20000315.
Berkman, P. A. (2019). Science diplomacy and its role in international cybersecurity. Global Policy, 10(S3), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12745.
Bourdieu, P. (1991). Language and symbolic power. Harvard University Press.
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027.
Broadhurst, R., Grabosky, P., Alazab, M., & Chon, S. (2014). Organizations and cyber crime: An analysis of the nature of groups engaged in cyber crime. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 8(1), 1–20.
Charbonneau, B. (2017). Intervention in Mali: Building peace between peacekeeping and counterterrorism. Routledge.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Eriksson, J., & Giacomello, G. (2006). The information revolution, security, and international relations: (IR) relevant theory? International Political Science Review, 27(3), 221–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512106064462.
Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language (2nd ed.). Routledge.
George, A. L., & Bennett, A. (2005). Case studies and theory development in the social sciences. MIT Press.
Interpol. (2021). African cyberthreat assessment report 2021. Interpol.
Mazrui, A. A., & Mazrui, A. M. (1998). The power of Babel: Language and governance in the African experience. University of Chicago Press.
Nocetti, J. (2015). Contest and conquest: Russia and global internet governance. International Affairs, 91(1), 111–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12188.
Pennycook, A. (2017). Posthumanist applied linguistics. Routledge.
Phillipson, R. (1992). Linguistic imperialism. Oxford University Press.
Shelley, L. I. (2014). Dirty entanglements: Corruption, crime, and terrorism. Cambridge University Press.
Taddeo, M., & Floridi, L. (2018). Regulating cybersecurity. Philosophy & Technology, 31(3), 369–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-018-0325-9.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC]. (2022). Global report on cybercrime 2022. UNODC.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
