Monday December 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – The Third National Cybersecurity Forum officially opened in Mogadishu on Monday to strengthen Somalia’s digital security ecosystem, foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, and promote a shared national responsibility for cybersecurity.
The two-day forum is jointly organized by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Mogadishu University under the theme “Promoting Digital Security in Somalia.”
This year’s forum underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and highlights the need for updated regulatory, policy, and institutional frameworks to address increasing cyber risks.
Speaking at the opening session, Mogadishu University President Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Mursal emphasized the importance of collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector.
In his remarks, NCA Director General Mustafa Yasin Sheikh described cybersecurity as a foundational pillar of Somalia’s digital transformation agenda. He stressed that countering cyber threats requires close coordination among government institutions, academic institutions, and the private sector. The director general reaffirmed the NCA’s commitment to strengthening regulatory frameworks and technical capacity to protect national communications infrastructure and digital services.
Minister of Communications and Technology Mohamed Hassan Mohamed (Soomaali), emphasized that cybersecurity is a national priority with direct implications for governance, economic growth, and public trust in digital services. He noted that the ministry is working to develop and enforce cybersecurity laws and policies to protect critical information and essential services, adding that the Cybersecurity Law is currently under parliamentary review.
Over the two days, the forum will feature keynote addresses, expert presentations, panel discussions, academic research papers, and tabletop exercises. These sessions will focus on cybersecurity governance, public–private partnerships, national awareness, and coordinated incident response, with the aim of producing practical recommendations to further strengthen Somalia’s national cybersecurity posture.
The Third National Cybersecurity Forum marks a significant milestone in Somalia’s efforts to build resilient digital security frameworks and protect its digital public infrastructure, reinforcing the country’s commitment to a secure, trusted, and inclusive digital future.