By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Ethiopia, June 25, 2026 - Ethiopia is making significant progress in building a secure and resilient digital ecosystem as the country accelerates its digital transformation agenda, Information Network Security Administration (INSA) Director-General Tigist Hamid has said.
Speaking at the International Conference on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence in Addis Ababa on Thursday, Tigist said Ethiopia has undertaken major legal, institutional, and technological reforms aimed at safeguarding its rapidly expanding digital economy and protecting critical national infrastructure from evolving cyber threats.
The conference brought together government officials, cybersecurity experts, technology leaders, academics, and development partners to discuss emerging opportunities and risks associated with digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Tigist noted that Ethiopia revised its National Cybersecurity Policy in 2024 to align with emerging technological realities, evolving cyber threats, and international best practices.
"Ethiopia's national cybersecurity policy was comprehensively revised in 2024 to reflect emerging technological realities, evolving cyber threats, and international best practices," she said.
According to the Director-General, the country has since established a robust legal and institutional framework designed to enhance trust and confidence in the digital environment.
She cited a series of laws and proclamations enacted to safeguard citizens and national interests, including legislation governing critical information infrastructure protection, personal data protection, electronic transactions, electronic signatures, telecommunications fraud, and cybercrime prevention.
The reforms come as Ethiopia continues implementing its Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, an ambitious national programme aimed at expanding digital connectivity, promoting e-government services, boosting innovation, and increasing the contribution of the digital economy to national development.
Tigist said Ethiopia has also expanded its cybersecurity capabilities through structured defence mechanisms that include security operations centres, advanced threat intelligence systems, cyber incident response frameworks, and continuous monitoring capabilities.
"A secure digital ecosystem is essential to national sovereignty, economic resilience, and sustainable development," she emphasised.
She further called for increased investments in cybersecurity education, advanced technical training, research and innovation, and youth talent development, noting that the fight against cyber threats requires collective action beyond national borders.
"We need stronger cooperation with governments, international organisations, academia, industry leaders, and development partners," Tigist said.
Her remarks come at a time when African countries are witnessing rapid growth in digital services, mobile financial transactions, cloud computing, artificial intelligence applications, and online public services, all of which have increased the importance of robust cybersecurity systems.
More from Ethiopia
For her part, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Deputy Executive Secretary Mama Keita stressed that cybersecurity should no longer be viewed merely as a technical function within ICT departments but as a critical pillar of economic and social resilience.
"Digital payments, online services, and digital platforms all depend on trust, including the reliability of systems and the protection of data," Keita said.
She observed that artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming institutions by generating knowledge, creating content, supporting decision-making processes, and reshaping operations across multiple sectors.
However, Keita warned that the same technologies can also be exploited by cybercriminals.
"While AI can strengthen cybersecurity through faster threat detection and improved fraud prevention, cyber criminals can also use AI to automate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities at scale, and undermine trust," she cautioned.
The UNECA official urged governments, private sector actors, academic institutions, and international organisations to work together to address emerging digital threats and build resilient digital economies.
"The solutions must be collaborative," she said, adding that "Africa must take an active role in shaping its digital future rather than merely adopting developments made elsewhere."
The conference comes as Ethiopia continues to invest heavily in digital infrastructure, including the expansion of broadband connectivity, digital identity systems, e-commerce platforms, electronic government services, and financial technology solutions.
Officials say strengthening cybersecurity will be critical to ensuring that these digital investments remain secure, trusted, and capable of supporting Ethiopia's broader economic modernisation agenda.
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated worldwide, experts at the conference emphasised that cybersecurity is no longer solely a technology issue but a strategic development priority that directly affects economic growth, national security, and public trust in digital systems.