The Director General of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), Ms. Tigist Hamid, stated that Ethiopia’s cybersecurity strategy and Africa’s digital transformation journey were key points of discussion during her presentations at the GITEX Africa 2026 technology conference currently being held in Morocco.
Ms. Tigist participated in a panel discussion titled “Cyber Risk at Scale: Securing Infrastructure Without Slowing Growth,” where she elaborated on Ethiopia’s national vision, “Digital Ethiopia 2030,” and ongoing efforts to ensure cybersecurity sovereignty.
In her remarks, she cited an Ethiopian saying meaning “you cannot prioritize one thing while neglecting another,” to emphasize that rapid technological transformation and cybersecurity are not separate issues. She further stressed the importance of integrating cybersecurity from the design stage of technology development, highlighting the concept of “secure-by-design.”
She noted that Africa loses more than 3 billion US dollars annually due to cyberattacks. To address this challenge, she explained that Ethiopia is prioritizing security while expanding major digital infrastructure projects such as the Fayda digital ID system and 5G networks.
The Director General also emphasized the importance of building human capital in cybersecurity, stating that Ethiopia is making significant efforts in this area. As an example, she highlighted the “5 Million Coders” initiative, which aims to develop a large pool of skilled professionals for the digital economy.
Finally, she called on African countries to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity, citing another Ethiopian proverb meaning “unity is strength.” She stressed that collaboration and transparent information sharing among African nations are essential for building a sustainable and secure digital economy across the continent.
