Addis Ababa, June 26, 2026 (FMC) — The IGAD Regional Cyber Drill 2026 officially opened in Addis Ababa today, launching a five-day exercise aimed at strengthening cybersecurity capabilities across Eastern Africa and enhancing coordinated responses to cross-border cyber threats.
The exercise is being conducted at the Information Network Security Administration (INSA) headquarters under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), bringing together leaders of cybersecurity institutions, law enforcement agencies, regulators, and operators of critical infrastructure from IGAD Member States.
The program is supported by the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Cyber Ranges, and MacMillan Consulting.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, IGAD Head of Mission to Ethiopia, H.E. Abebaw Bihonegn Belachew, emphasized that cyber threats transcend national borders and require collective action.
“Cyber attacks do not respect borders; an attack on one country has a rapid impact on the region. We need to stand together and provide a coordinated response,” he said.
On her part, Director-General of Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Administration (INSA), H.E. Tigist Hamid, officially launched the exercise, underscoring Ethiopia’s commitment to regional cooperation in cybersecurity as part of its foreign policy orientation.
Citing the Ethiopian proverb “A distant relative is a close neighbor,” she noted that cooperation with neighboring countries is central to ensuring digital security in an increasingly interconnected region.
She added that rapid technological change requires a shift in approach to emerging threats, stressing that digital infrastructure has become a foundation of regional connectivity and must be adequately protected.
“We cannot face the challenges of today and tomorrow by remaining where we were yesterday,” she said.
The five-day program focuses on building a shared understanding of cybersecurity policy and strategy, strengthening technical capacity in threat detection and response, and conducting simulated national and regional cyber exercises.
The simulations include attacks on telecommunications, financial systems, and critical infrastructure, as well as coordinated regional scenarios involving ransomware and cyber-enabled disinformation campaigns.
Organizers said the drill is expected to help identify existing gaps in regional cybersecurity preparedness and generate practical, actionable solutions for member states.