Ethiopia advances digital governance with national workshop on new data protection law

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta

The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) has taken a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital governance framework by convening a national workshop on Ethiopia’s newly enacted Personal Data Protection Proclamation. The event brought together government agencies, private-sector organizations, cloud and data-center service providers, financial institutions, and international partners to discuss implementation of the nation’s first comprehensive data-protection law.

Opening the workshop, ECA Director General Eng. Balcha Reba described the proclamation as a foundational milestone for safeguarding the privacy rights of all Ethiopians. He noted that personal data now underpins public services, digital platforms, and economic activity, making strong accountability, transparency, and security measures essential across institutions.

Huawei Ethiopia CEO Mr. Michael also delivered remarks, expressing the company’s support for Ethiopia’s data-protection agenda. He commended the government for taking a forward-looking approach to digital trust, emphasizing that robust data governance is critical for innovation and economic growth.

During the technical session, ECA Deputy Director General Mr. Million Hailmichael provided a detailed briefing on the proclamation’s principles, individual rights, and organizational obligations. He underscored the need for institutions to align internal systems with the law’s requirements as Ethiopia accelerates digital transformation.

Representatives from Ethio Telecom, Safaricom Ethiopia, Websprix, EthSwitch S.C., Raxio, Wingu Africa, Zergaw Cloud, Huawei, and various financial institutions participated in discussions on strengthening institutional data-governance frameworks and improving personal-data safeguards. Huawei shared global best practices on data governance and cybersecurity, while the African Union offered insights on continental harmonization of data-protection standards.

The ECA also introduced its upcoming Data Controller and Processor Registration Portal, designed to streamline compliance processes and enhance regulatory transparency.

The Authority closed the workshop by reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that Ethiopia’s digital transformation is built on privacy, security, and accountability. Participants expressed a shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, raising public awareness on responsible data handling, and supporting effective implementation of the new proclamation.