By:
Kanto Kai Okanta
The
IGAD Cyber Drill 2026 has concluded following five days of intensive regional
collaboration aimed at strengthening cybersecurity resilience across IGAD
Member States, according to the Information Network Security Administration
(INSA).
The
exercise, hosted by IGAD in partnership with INSA, brought together
policymakers, cybersecurity agencies, law enforcement institutions and critical
infrastructure stakeholders to test and improve regional preparedness against
evolving cyber threats.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony, INSA Deputy Director General Daniel Guta emphasized
that cybersecurity threats are inherently cross-border and require coordinated
regional responses.
He
noted that a cyberattack targeting one country can quickly extend to
neighbouring states, affecting critical infrastructure, financial systems,
telecommunications networks and public trust. He stressed that regional
cooperation is therefore essential in building effective cyber defence
mechanisms.
Guta
added that the exercise not only strengthened technical capabilities but also
enhanced trust, teamwork and shared understanding among participating
institutions, laying the groundwork for deeper regional collaboration in
cybersecurity.
He
outlined six strategic priorities going forward, including institutionalising
cybersecurity drills as permanent national programmes, expanding future
simulations to cover more complex threat scenarios such as attacks on critical
infrastructure, financial systems and AI-enabled threats, and accelerating
harmonised cybersecurity frameworks through national legislation.
