New Intelligence-Driven Border and Airport System to Boost Ethiopia’s Security Capacity, Says NISS Chief

Addis Ababa, June 28, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is set to implement a comprehensive transformation of its border and airport security architecture through an intelligence-driven system designed to significantly enhance national security capacity, Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Ambassador Redwan Hussein, has said.

The initiative was outlined during a consultative forum held in Addis Ababa on the Integrated Airport and Border Management Transformation Program.

Ambassador Redwan, who also chairs the Main Committee overseeing the program, said the reform represents a strategic shift toward modern, data-driven security systems capable of responding to increasingly complex and evolving threats.

He emphasized that the transformation is not limited to infrastructure upgrades, but also aims to enhance Ethiopia’s global competitiveness in a rapidly digitalizing international environment.

According to him, the new system will enable proactive threat detection and prevention through advanced intelligence tools, while also strengthening real-time information sharing and coordination among relevant security institutions.

Ambassador Redwan noted that this integrated approach is expected to significantly improve Ethiopia’s capacity to counter terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering, and illicit arms trafficking.

He further underlined that safeguarding cyber sovereignty is a key pillar of the program, with a strong emphasis on developing indigenous technological capabilities.

The NISS Chief added that the integration of artificial intelligence, alongside investment in skilled human capital, will be central to improving operational efficiency and modernizing security institutions.

He explained that a detailed implementation roadmap has already been prepared, covering core areas including technological infrastructure, standard operating procedures, human resource development, logistics systems, and the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks.

Ambassador Redwan stressed that the initiative goes beyond a security upgrade, describing it as a strategic instrument aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s geo-strategic positioning and advancing long-term national prosperity.

He reiterated that modernizing border and airport security is essential to safeguarding sovereignty and ensuring Ethiopia remains competitive on the global stage.

The roadmap is also aligned with Ethiopia’s broader Digital Ethiopia 2025/2030 strategy and is expected to enhance national preparedness for upcoming international conferences and global engagements hosted in the country.

The consultative forum brought together senior federal and regional government officials, as well as leaders of various security institutions, who contributed inputs to the implementation framework of the transformation program.