7 December 2022 | UNDSS Comms
For 2.9 billion people worldwide still offline, many of them living in developing countries, access to the internet remains elusive. Poor infrastructures in rural areas of Africa are what lag the continent behind in technological advancement resulting in a less inclusive economic growth. To seek solutions and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of Ethiopia hosted the 17th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) from 28 November to 2 December 2022. The Safety and Security Services (SSS) team in Addis Ababa, in close collaboration with the Host Government, coordinated the security plan for the 2,500 participants and 50 V/VIPs attending. This Forum is the biggest one held in ECA since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The IGF is a platform for discussions that aims to facilitate common understanding of how to maximize internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise, resulting in an intergovernmental negotiated and agreed outcome. Under the theme “Resilient internet for a shared sustainable and common future”, the Forum programme aligns with the Global Digital Compact in the UN Secretary-General's “Common Agenda” report.
High-level political representatives, including Heads of States and Governments, heads of delegations and Ministers of technology, parliamentarians, IGOs, NGOs, civil societies and private sector’s technical community groups gathered during the 5-days forum which raised the complexity of the security operation. The Ethiopia Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed; ECA Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Antonio Pedro; the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua; among other dignitaries, attended the opening ceremony. The Ethiopia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen attended the closing ceremony.
“Formal and informal meetings were organized between ECA SSS and Federal Police Commission, Addis Ababa Police Commission, Addis Ababa Traffic office, National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and Information Network Security Authority (INSA) to ensure a successful IGF, which resulted in the Host Government appreciating and praising the overall joint security arrangement,” said Lieutenant Tadele Demissie, SSS Security Conference Support Unit team leader.
Deputy Chief Ms. Christiana Ugulu and the Assistant Chief, Ms. Déborah Guedes led the security operation.
“The IGF’s successful security operation was made possible by the robust and productive liaison with host government securities and an outstanding team synergy, diligence and hard work of all SSS staff. The IGF event gathered appreciation from different stakeholders, participants and event organizer,” said Ms. Ugulu. The forum ended without any significant security incidents.