Addis Ababa, June 30, 2026 (ENA) – Cyber dangers have gone past country lines, highlighting the importance of working together within regions to safeguard vital infrastructure, banking networks, communication services, and people’s confidence, stated Daniel Guta, Deputy Director-General of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), during the conclusion of the IGAD Regional Cyber Exercise 2026 held in Addis Ababa today.
Speaking to attendees of the five-day regional cyber security exercise, the Deputy Director-General stated that cyber security has now become more than just a national duty; it is also a key concern at both regional and international levels because of how connected digital networks have become.
"Currently, a cybersecurity threat can easily cross international boundaries. A breach targeting one nation may rapidly impact the whole area. Essential infrastructure, banking networks, communication services, and public confidence extend throughout our region. Therefore, our reaction needs to be strongly coordinated," he mentioned.
The Assistant Director-General emphasized that the completion of the exercise signifies the start of a new stage in regional cyber security collaboration instead of the termination of the program.
"This final event does not signify the conclusion of the path. Instead, it represents the start of the most recent stage in global cyber security collaboration," Daniel mentioned.
He identified six key focus areas for upcoming collaboration aimed at enhancing lasting regional cyber resilience. These involve making routine national and regional cyber simulations an official practice, broadening future exercises to address increasingly sophisticated cyber risks, adopting unified cybersecurity standards nationally, setting up systems for swift exchange of threat information across regions, ensuring consistent funding for cybersecurity efforts, and crafting clear strategies to track development.
On behalf of IGAD's Executive Secretary, IGAD Chief Representative in Ethiopia, Abebaw Belachew, stated that the exercise has greatly enhanced the region's joint cybersecurity abilities.
"Five days back, we launched this initiative with the core belief that within our connected system, our safety depends entirely on our shared determination," he remarked. "Today, our regional cybersecurity has significantly improved compared to what it was five days earlier," he continued.
Abeba observed that the activity started with talks about cybersecurity policy, management, and new dangers, then moved to practical instruction in digital investigation techniques utilizing artificial intelligence-based equipment, finally ending with real-time cyber attack exercises on an online network simulation system.
The Leader highlighted that, in addition to technical abilities, the confidence built between cybersecurity experts from participating countries would be crucial in addressing upcoming digital threats.
"If another significant real-world cybersecurity event happens, you won't be dealing with it by yourself. You'll have access to a local group of professionals you can reach out to," he said.
Abebaw also praised Ethiopia and INSA for organizing the event and recognized the assistance provided by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, and other partner organizations in promoting regional cyber security collaboration.
A five-day exercise ended with the distribution of certificates to attendees representing Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda.
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