There is a strong message from Kenya’s top intelligence and foreign affairs authorities at the 2nd Mashariki Cooperation Council (MCC) held in Naivasha. Africa must unite against the threats of a new era born out of technological destruction, digital misinformation and cross-border crime.
At the end of the high-level summit, National Intelligence Agency (NIS) Director Nordin Haji issued a calm warning about the evolving nature of national security threats in the digital age.
“The rapid technological advancements, recent developments in social media and the threat of emergence of digital activities have escalated the threat to new levels,” Haji said. “The spread of misinformation and disinformation campaigns exacerbated by the use of AI-generated content has led the government to be its biggest target and has fought a war on the truth.”
Haji welcomed the collective resolve of Member States to face these challenges head on, and emphasized the need for shared strategies to protect national and regional stability.
In his remarks, Haji also highlighted how traditional threats are evolving to utilize new technologies.
“Increasingly, rebels are leveraging emerging blockchain technology and weak internal financial management to promote money laundering and illegal financial flows,” he noted, pointing to an increase in rallies between terrorism and cross-border organized crime.
Cabinet Secretariat on Foreign and Diaspora Issues, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi reiterated the urgency of embracing technical reality while harnessing intelligence to maintain security and unity in Africa.
“The world cannot escape the challenges of AI, but we have to embrace it and make sure it works. Intelligence plays a key role in the integration of the African continent,” says Mudavadi.
Mudavadi also highlighted the broader role of intelligence reporting agencies in promoting peace and development across the continent.
MCC has brought together intelligence and security leaders across the region to set a deeper tone of collaboration in the face of a rapidly changing global threat landscape.
