Somalia Opens Fourth National Cybersecurity Forum in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The fourth National Cybersecurity Forum opened in Mogadishu on Tuesday, jointly organized by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Mogadishu University.

The two-day forum brings together government officials, telecommunications and technology companies, internet service providers, banks, universities, civil society organizations, researchers and cybersecurity experts.

Held under the theme “Building Cyber Trust and Resilience through Security-by-Design,” the forum focuses on strengthening national cybersecurity capabilities, securing digital systems and enhancing cooperation among key stakeholders.

Speaking at the opening, Mogadishu University President Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Mursal highlighted the role of universities in developing cybersecurity professionals and research, including the university’s newly introduced specialization in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.

NCA Director General Mustafa Yasin Sheikh outlined the authority’s recent cybersecurity achievements, including the launch of the Somalia Computer Incident Response Team (SOMCIRT), government staff training, public awareness programmes and the development of cybersecurity compliance and risk-management frameworks.

The Minister of Communications and Technology, H.E. Mohamed Adan Maalim, officially opened the forum and commended the NCA and Mogadishu University for convening the event for the fourth consecutive year.

The Minister highlighted the launch of SOMCIRT in March 2026 and the planned establishment of the National Cybersecurity Academy later this year, urging participants to exchange expertise and develop practical recommendations to strengthen national cybersecurity and public awareness.

The forum will feature research presentations and discussions on cybersecurity policies, protection of digital infrastructure, emerging threats and national cyber incident response, with a particular focus on security-by-design approaches.