19 Dec Somalia’s new national cybersecurity certification is set to change the industry

Somalia has launched a new national cybersecurity certification programme aimed at strengthening digital security and building a skilled workforce to protect critical systems.

The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and CyberSecurity Malaysia to establish the Global Accredited Cybersecurity Education (Global ACE) Somalia Country Chapter. This marks the first formal deployment of the Global ACE framework in the country.

Global ACE is a vendor-neutral certification system aligned with international standards, including ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO/IEC 27001. Officials say the framework is designed to ensure that certified professionals meet global benchmarks for technical competence, ethical conduct and professional integrity.

Under the agreement, SIMAD University will host the Somalia Country Chapter. The university will support the delivery of cybersecurity certifications, professional training and national capacity-building programmes.

Authorities said the move comes as Somalia expands digital services across government, finance and communications, increasing exposure to cyber risks. A shortage of trained professionals has been identified as a key vulnerability in protecting national systems and critical infrastructure.

The Country Chapter model is intended to standardise training, enable mutual recognition of qualifications and support cross-border cooperation in cybersecurity education. Officials said this would also help local institutions adopt internationally recognised practices.

The Global ACE framework covers three levels of expertise, from students and entry-level learners to technical specialists such as analysts and engineers, and senior professionals responsible for strategic decision-making and governance.

Certification requires candidates to pass standardised examinations and complete competency assessments. Applications must be submitted within three years of completing the exam, a measure designed to ensure skills remain current.

Global ACE offers more than 20 certification tracks, including penetration testing, digital forensics, incident response, data privacy, cloud security, cyber law, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity risk management. Training programmes range from basic skills to advanced specialisations such as malware analysis and dark-web intelligence.

Officials said the programme is expected to support technology transfer, strengthen local training institutions and create employment opportunities, while improving national resilience against cyber threats.

Global ACE has trained and certified thousands of professionals in more than 40 countries and is recognised by bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Somali officials said the new Country Chapter would play a central role in improving cybersecurity governance and positioning Somalia within the global digital security ecosystem.

In other news, Zambia’s telecommunications sector marked an important moment at the Global System for Mobile Association of Zambia’s end-of-year ceremony on 5 December 2025.

The gathering discussed how the industry is supporting the country’s digital growth, from expanding broadband access to improving cybersecurity and protecting consumers.

The event also included a change in leadership at GSMAZ, seen as part of wider efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and security both in Zambia and across the region.