Addis Ababa, June 30, 2026 (FMC) — Cybersecurity challenges that transcend national boundaries require stronger regional coordination to safeguard critical infrastructure, financial systems, telecommunications networks, and public trust, according to Information Network Security Administration (INSA) Deputy Director-General Daniel Guta.
He made the remarks at the closing session of the IGAD Regional Cyber Drill 2026, a five-day exercise held in Addis Ababa aimed at strengthening regional cyber defense capabilities.
Daniel noted that cyber threats are increasingly interconnected, making cybersecurity not only a national concern but also a regional and global priority.
«“Today, a cyber-threat crosses national borders. An attack on one country can quickly affect the entire region. Critical infrastructures, financial systems, telecommunications, and public trust span across our region. So our response must be closely connected,” he said.»
He stressed that the conclusion of the drill should not be seen as an endpoint, but rather as the beginning of a deeper phase of cooperation among regional partners.
«“This closing ceremony is not the end of the journey. Rather, it marks the beginning of the latest phase of international cybersecurity cooperation,” he added.»
Outlining future priorities, the Deputy Director-General identified six key areas for strengthening regional cyber resilience. These include institutionalizing regular national and regional cyber drills, expanding the scope of exercises to address more advanced threats, harmonizing cybersecurity regulations across member states, establishing rapid regional threat intelligence-sharing mechanisms, ensuring sustainable financing for cybersecurity initiatives, and developing measurable action plans to track progress.
Speaking on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary, IGAD Head of Mission to Ethiopia Abebaw Belachew said the exercise had significantly enhanced collective regional cyber defense capacity.
He recalled that the program began with discussions on cybersecurity policy, governance, and emerging threats, before progressing to technical training in digital forensics using AI-assisted tools and culminating in live cyberattack simulations on a cyber range platform.
Abebaw emphasized that beyond technical capacity, the trust built among cybersecurity professionals from member states would be critical in responding to future incidents.
«“When the next real-world cyber incident occurs, you will not be facing it alone. You will have a regional network of colleagues you can call upon,” he said.»
He also commended Ethiopia and INSA for hosting the exercise and acknowledged the support of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, and other development partners in advancing regional cybersecurity cooperation.
The exercise concluded with the issuance of certificates to participants from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda.