Somalia unveils national cyber security centre

Somalia’s ICT minister, Mohamed Adam Moalim, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, Director General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia [Picture credit: Somalia’s ICT ministry].

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Somalia’s Ministry of Communication and Technology has launched the National Centre for Responding to Emergency Security (SOMCIRT) to bolster cyber security defences as well as to monitor and respond to cyber risks.

The inauguration of the centre over the weekend by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre marks a critical milestone in the nation's digital sovereignty.

Officials said the facility targets digital security and communications, operating under the mandate of the National Cybersecurity Law approved by parliament in January this year.

The establishment of SOMCIRT follows a significant security breach of the government's e-visa system in November 2025, which reportedly exposed the personal data of at least 35,000 applicants.

By facilitating the identification of- and response to such technology-related security events, SOMCIRT aims to boost public confidence in the country's digital systems.

Minister of Communication and Technology, Mohamed Adam Moalim, added that the implementation of this centre is part of the ministry's broader strategy to strengthen national cyber security.

He noted that significant effort has been invested to ensure the centre serves as a unified hub for monitoring and preventing risks to communication systems.

To further enhance technical capacity, Somalia has also expanded international cooperation, recently signing cyber security agreements with Cyber Security Malaysia and Turkey's Information Technologies and Communications Authority.

The ministry stated: “In today's world, the risk of technology and communication attacks is constantly increasing. Consequently, the ministry and national leaders have placed special importance on protecting, saving, and monitoring government information and digital systems across the country.”