According to the Authority, the initiative is part of broader efforts to reinforce the security of Somalia’s digital infrastructure and improve the resilience of public digital systems.
The Director General of the National Communications Authority, Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, has inaugurated a specialized training program aimed at equipping government officials with internationally recognized cybersecurity certifications, in a major step toward strengthening Somalia’s digital defense capacity.
The program is designed to prepare ICT professionals across government institutions to obtain globally recognized certifications, enhancing their ability to safeguard national data and respond effectively to the growing threat of cyberattacks. According to the Authority, the initiative is part of broader efforts to reinforce the security of Somalia’s digital infrastructure and improve the resilience of public digital systems.
Speaking at the launch, the Director General emphasized the importance of capacity building in the public sector, stating that the program will strengthen the protection of national digital assets and help government personnel respond more effectively to evolving cyber risks. He also urged participants to fully engage with the training and apply the knowledge gained within their respective institutions to improve cybersecurity practices.
The training covers a range of globally recognized certifications, including CompTIA Security+, Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council), Cloud Security Essentials (GIAC), ISMS (ISO/IEC 27001:2022) Lead Auditor, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) from ISACA, and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from ISC2.
The sessions will be delivered both online in Mogadishu and physically in Nairobi, running from March 28 to May 8, 2026. Government institutions had been instructed to nominate qualified staff with at least a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related fields, along with a minimum of two years of relevant experience or active roles in system or network administration.
To ensure quality outcomes, only participants who successfully pass examinations will progress to higher certification levels. The program is supported by the World Bank Group under the SCALED-UP Project and implemented in partnership with the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI), reinforcing Somalia’s efforts to build a skilled cybersecurity workforce and strengthen digital governance capacity.
