Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — In a significant move to bolster its digital security ecosystem, Ethiopia has officially launched a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) facility, a critical component of the country’s expanding digital public infrastructure. The inauguration ceremony, held in Addis Ababa, was presided over by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, underscoring the government’s commitment to advancing digital transformation.
The new PKI facility, developed in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Information Security Network Administration, aims to streamline secure data exchanges across the nation’s digital platforms. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in ensuring the security and integrity of digital communications within both government and private sector operations.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing the launch, emphasized the role of digital security in safeguarding national sovereignty. “Securing virtual data complements the task of protecting national sovereignty. Today, we officially launched Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) with the Information Network Security Administration. This will facilitate reliable and secure digital data exchange,” the Prime Minister stated in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Highlighting the broader implications of the PKI, the Prime Minister noted that the system is a foundational element in Ethiopia’s digital security architecture. “If we can achieve digital identity and use public key infrastructure (PKI) properly, then we have entered the real virtual world,” he added, pointing to the pivotal role of PKI in enabling secure digital signatures, data transfer, and verification processes.
This launch comes at a time when Ethiopia is ramping up efforts to enhance its digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in response to growing threats, including those posed by generative artificial intelligence. Digital security, as emphasized by the Prime Minister, is central to Ethiopia’s broader digital transformation agenda, which also includes initiatives like a nationwide coding program aimed at training five million coders, and the ambitious national digital ID program.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Truneh also underscored the significance of the PKI launch, describing it as a vital leap forward in Ethiopia’s digital evolution. Speaking to Fana Broadcasting Corporation, Truneh noted that the PKI facility is a key enabler of the country’s digital ambitions, reinforcing its ability to protect digital identities and secure online transactions.
As part of its digital transformation strategy, Ethiopia has already issued over 8 million digital IDs, including to vulnerable groups such as refugees and returnees. The country’s digital ID program, known as the Ethiopia Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project, was recently refined with input from the World Bank, ensuring a more inclusive and secure digital identity framework.
The launch of the PKI is expected to enhance the reliability of Ethiopia’s digital systems, making them more resilient against cyber threats while supporting the secure exchange of information within the country’s digital ecosystem. As Ethiopia continues to push forward with its digital initiatives, the successful implementation of PKI marks a critical milestone in the nation’s journey toward a more secure and interconnected digital future.
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