Somalia approves cybersecurity law to protect digital systems and critical infrastructure
Somalia approves cybersecurity law to protect digital systems and critical infrastructure
Publish Date: 2026-01-27 00:52:00
Source Domain: www.hiiraan.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
Tuesday January 27, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s lower house of parliament on Saturday approved a new Cybersecurity Law to protect the country’s digital infrastructure, securing information systems and strengthening defenses against cyber threats.
The legislation establishes a national framework for managing cybersecurity, clarifying institutional roles and setting out procedures for preventing, reporting and responding to cyber incidents. It assigns policy responsibility to the Ministry of Communications and Technology, a technical oversight role to the National Communications Authority, and legal obligations to operators of critical infrastructure.
A central feature of the law is the creation of the Somalia Computer Incident Response Team, known as SOM-CIRT, which will coordinate national responses to cyberattacks and other digital security incidents.
Officials described the law as a major advance for a country that has rapidly expanded its use of digital services while remaining vulnerable to cybercrime, data breaches and disruptions targeting government and private-sector systems.
Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, director general of the National Communications Authority, said the approval marks “an important step toward building a coordinated national cybersecurity system” and improving Somalia’s readiness to detect and respond to digital threats.
State Minister of Communications and Technology Ahmed Osman Dirie thanked lawmakers for backing the legislation, calling it a critical pillar for safeguarding national security and protecting citizens in an increasingly digital environment. He said the law brings Somalia closer to international standards and best practices in cybersecurity governance.
The Cybersecurity Law is expected to bolster trust in digital services, support the growth of Somalia’s digital economy and improve coordination among government institutions, private companies and international partners. It also comes as Somalia expands e-government services, mobile banking and digital identification systems, increasing the need for stronger cyber protections.
For a country emerging from decades of conflict and institutional fragility, officials say the law provides a foundation for securing the digital space that now underpins daily life, commerce and public administration.
