Addis Ababa, 24 June 2026 (ECA) - The inaugural International Conference on Cybersecurity in the Era of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence opened today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, bringing together policymakers, cybersecurity practitioners, researchers, technology leaders, and development partners from across Africa.
Convened jointly by the Ethiopian Cybersecurity Association (ECySA) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the two-day conference, held under the theme Risks, Resilience and Africa's Strategic Imperatives marks a significant step in building a continental platform for evidence-based dialogue on the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Opening the conference, ECA Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support Mama Keita framed the stakes plainly: artificial intelligence is no longer confined to information processing. It now generates knowledge, shapes institutions, and supports decision-making at every level of society, and its implications for security are profound.
"Every technological revolution creates opportunity but seldom distributes it equally. Those who invest, innovate, and govern with foresight reap the greatest benefits, while those who hesitate risk relegation to the role of consumers rather than creators of the future."
— Mama Keita, Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support), ECA
The conference was officially declared open by Mrs. Tigist Hamid, Director General of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), who traced Ethiopia's cybersecurity journey over the past eight years. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia has enacted a landmark legislative framework, including the Critical Infrastructure Protection Proclamation, the Data Protection Proclamation, the Electronic Transaction and Signature Proclamations, and the Cybercrime Proclamation, positioning the country as a benchmark for digital governance on the continent.
Mrs. Hamid reaffirmed Ethiopia's commitment to cybersecurity education, technical training, research, innovation, talent development, and regional and global cooperation on digital resilience.
In the first keynote, Mr. Tsegaye Emmanuel Mekael, Chief Information Security Officer at Ethio Telecom, underlined that secure digital transformation is a leadership journey, not a technical project. Ethio Telecom, he noted, has embraced AI to improve customer experience, optimize operations, and anticipate future needs while treating cybersecurity as a strategic enabler of economic growth, digital trust, and regional integration. Africa, he argued, has a genuine opportunity to lead globally in FinTech, digital public services, and innovation if the foundations of security are built now.
ECySA President Berhanu Beyene welcomed the gathering as the start of a sustained continental conversation. One built on operational realities rather than theoretical frameworks. The conference is designed as the inaugural edition of a recurring pan-African forum, convened at the diplomatic heart of the continent, with ECA headquarters serving as its institutional home.
"Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue — it is a business, governance, research, and national sovereignty priority. This conference brings together the policymakers, innovators, researchers, and practitioners who are shaping Africa's digital future."
— Berhanu Beyene, President, ECySA
The conference continues on 25 June 2026, with sessions covering critical infrastructure protection, AI-enabled defense tools, capacity building, and regional cooperation frameworks.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org