IGAD Sounds the Alarm: The Future of Regional Security Hinges on AI and Cybersecurity

“AI is the new digital divide.” That was the striking message delivered by H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as he opened the high-level IGAD Regional Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, held from 18–20 June 2025 in Nairobi.

The seminar, themed "Harnessing AI and Cybersecurity for Security, Cooperation, and Resilience", convened IGAD member states, digital policy experts, security practitioners, and development partners to chart a path toward collective security governance in the digital age. 

Why AI and Cybersecurity Matter Now More Than Ever

With global conflict increasingly moving from the battlefield to the digital domain, IGAD made it clear: AI and cybersecurity are now integral to peace and regional stability. Dr. Workneh warned that while the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings innovation, it also introduces an entirely new class of threats—threats that are asymmetrical, borderless, and largely invisible.

“We are no longer just protecting borders,” he said. “We are now protecting bandwidths.”

Cyberattacks are on the rise. In Kenya alone, over $3 million was lost to cybercrime last year, and cybersecurity breaches in Africa rose by 68%. Even more troubling, attacks targeting government institutions jumped by 45%, a signal that state capacity is being tested in new ways.

The IGAD Region: Unique Strengths, Shared Vulnerabilities

Dr. Workneh’s keynote speech drew attention to the IGAD region’s remarkable digital potential—and its fragility. From AI-driven traffic systems in Nairobi, to facial recognition technology in Ethiopia, to digitized national IDs in Uganda, the region is not standing still.

But while IGAD countries are adopting AI tools at different speeds, many lack robust legal, ethical, and institutional frameworks to protect their citizens and infrastructure.

“The digital divide is no longer about access to the internet—it is about access to the future,” he said. “And that future is being built by those who understand, own, and govern AI.”

Nairobi Commitment 2030: A Bold Regional Vision

In a move that could redefine regional cooperation, IGAD unveiled the Nairobi Commitment 2030—a shared vision to ensure every IGAD citizen benefits from AI while being shielded from its harms.

The Commitment is anchored on three key pillars:

1. Harmonized Governance: IGAD proposes a regional AI and cybersecurity governance framework to ensure interoperability, data protection, and coordinated response mechanisms.

2. Workforce Development: The Executive Secretary called for training 500,000 AI and cybersecurity professionals by 2030, a drastic scale-up from the fewer than 15,000 currently in training.

3. Indigenous Innovation: He urged investment in local AI incubators and digital R&D hubs, stressing the importance of regional self-determination in shaping AI’s evolution.

To fund this transformation, IGAD is advocating for each member state to allocate at least 2% of their annual national budgets to AI and cybersecurity infrastructure.

Diplomacy Meets Digital Defense

Dr. Workneh’s keynote also stressed that cybersecurity is not a technical issue alone—it is a diplomatic and political one. IGAD’s peace and security architecture, originally designed for conventional conflict, must now be expanded to include digital peacekeeping, data diplomacy, and cyber-norm building.

He warned that the rise of “digital mercenaries” and shadow actors exploiting weak systems could destabilize governments and sow division. “If we don’t invest in defensive digital capacity now, we will soon find ourselves fighting invisible wars with outdated tools,” he cautioned.

AI as a Double-Edged Sword

AI’s transformative potential is evident in the IGAD region—from AI-enhanced policing in Rwanda to port surveillance in Djibouti. But Dr. Workneh also sounded an ethical alarm: AI can enable authoritarianism as easily as it can empower democracy.

Without ethical safeguards, regional tools like facial recognition or behavioral surveillance could be turned against civilians, journalists, or vulnerable groups. “Our security must never come at the expense of our humanity,” he warned.

Global Lessons, Regional Action

Drawing lessons from other global initiatives like the OECD’s AI Principles, the EU’s AI Act, and the GPAI (Global Partnership on AI), Dr. Workneh called on IGAD to craft its own regulatory compass rooted in African values, local realities, and regional solidarity.

He challenged delegates to move beyond just talking about “catching up” with the rest of the world:

 Final Word: The Clock Is Ticking

The Nairobi seminar concludes with the drafting of key recommendations and a roadmap to:

• Establish regional AI policy standards

• Build a cybersecurity early-warning network

• Promote cross-border cooperation in cybercrime enforcement

• Launch an IGAD Centre of Excellence on AI and Cybersecurity

The stakes are high. As Dr. Workneh reminded attendees:

For IGAD, the path forward is clear: If the region is to thrive in the digital century, security must be smart, cooperation must be seamless, and resilience must be rooted in regional unity.

Reporting by The 254 Report