The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has convened a high-level regional consultative seminar in Nairobi to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity can enhance security and resilience across the Horn of Africa.

Presiding over the opening, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo urged IGAD member states to unite in securing their digital futures, citing Kenya’s AI and cybersecurity strategies and the ongoing Digital Superhighway project. He proposed a regional threat intelligence platform, joint training programmes, and AI research centres.

“As each of our member states pursues digital transformation, we must recognise that cyber threats are transnational. Misinformation, data breaches, cybercrime, and the misuse of AI tools are not problems any country can solve alone,” stated Kabogo.

Kabogo noted that Kenya has also implemented a robust National Cybersecurity Strategy and strengthened legal protections through its data protection laws and regulatory institutions.

“Our commitment is rooted in the belief that technology must not deepen inequalities. AI should not become the next racial or economic divide. Instead, it must become a bridge to opportunity, a tool to uplift every citizen particularly women, youth, and marginalised communities,” he stressed.

“The future of security will be determined by how well nations harness the power of artificial intelligence and how quickly they respond to the growing risks in the digital domain,” said IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu.

Delivering a keynote address to government leaders, digital experts, and development partners, Dr. Gebeyehu emphasised that the Horn of Africa stands at a critical juncture, urging IGAD member states to embrace AI and strengthen cybersecurity to tackle emerging threats.

He showcased how AI is already transforming security operations across the region, citing Ethiopia’s use of predictive policing algorithms to combat armed crime, Kenya’s AI-enabled ambulances that have improved emergency response by 40 per cent, and Uganda’s digital ID system enhancing secure identification.

“Across our region, we face a multitude of security challenges—from terrorism and transnational crime to weak border management. But within these very challenges lie opportunities,” he noted.

Warning that cyberattacks now account for 68 per cent of successful digital breaches across Africa—with Kenya alone losing over $83 million to cybercrime in 2023—Dr. Gebeyehu urged member states to adopt the Nairobi Commitment, anchored on three pillars: harmonised digital security governance, large-scale investment in cyber talent, and indigenous AI innovation.

“Let us agree that by 2030, every IGAD citizen benefits from the promise of AI while being protected from digital threats,” he said. “We must train cybersecurity professionals, support startups addressing local problems, and dedicate at least 2 per cent of national budgets to digital security.”