Somali authorities aim to make ICT a driving force for the country’s socioeconomic development. To achieve this, the government must first ensure the security of the national cyberspace. 

The Somali government is seeking to strengthen its cooperation with Malaysia to better address cybersecurity challenges. The National Communications Authority (NCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CyberSecurity Malaysia, the Malaysian national cybersecurity agency, on Wednesday, May 7. 

“Areas of cooperation include prevention and response to cyber incidents, exchange of information on cyber security threats and trends, implementation of capacity building and certification programs, cooperation in cyber diplomacy, as well as participation in the national chapter of the Global ACE network ,” the Somali telecoms regulator said in a statement. 

These efforts come at a time when cybersecurity is considered essential to digital transformation, in the face of growing threats. In his report “State of Cybersecurity in Somalia 2024,” Abdullahi Guled, a consultant to the Ministry of Communications, indicated that Somalia experienced several incidents in 2024, although many were not made public. These include ransomware attacks against public institutions and phishing attempts targeting the financial sector. He also noted that mobile money platforms remain a particular target. 

The signing of this memorandum of understanding is part of the Somali authorities’ desire to strengthen cybersecurity, in a context where digital technology is set to become a key lever for socioeconomic development. The government is working to consolidate the regulatory framework, with a law on cybersecurity, another on cybercrime, and a national cybersecurity strategy for the period 2025-2030 in preparation. In November 2024, Somalia had already begun exploring collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in this area. 

Somalia was ranked in category 4 out of 5 in the International Telecommunication Union’s “Global Cybersecurity Index 2024,” “demonstrating a basic commitment to cybersecurity .” However, the country needs to step up its efforts, particularly in technical, legal, and capacity-building measures. It recorded an overall score of 37.38 out of 100. Its potential partner, Malaysia, is ranked in category 1, that of a global role model. 

It should be noted, however, that the two parties have only signed a memorandum of understanding so far. No timeline has been specified for the implementation of the agreement itself at this time. It will therefore be necessary to await further developments to gain further insight into the prospects for cooperation and its potential impact. 

Source: Agency EcoFin