Social media use raises alarm among East African security chiefs

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said pointed out other challenges, including transnational organised crimes and threats induced by climate change, which continue to adversely impact peace and security across the continent.

“If we fail to manage these threats effectively, we jeopardise our collective existence. We must confront these challenges with urgency and determination,” he told the second Mashariki Cooperation Conference held at the Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha.

The National Intelligence Service, according to the Director General Noordin Haji, is worried about increased use of social media for advocacy and civil mobilisation.

“This has resulted in the widespread emergence of coordinated misinformation and disinformation aimed at misleading citizens,” he stated.

“This trend has led them to make poor decisions and foster misguided perceptions of their governments, creating an environment of psychological uncertainty among the populace.”

Murkomen pointed out that the continent is rich in valuable natural resources, including minerals, wildlife and opportunities in the green and blue economy, butt cautioned that “sustainable exploitation and optimal utilisation of these resources require advanced shared intelligence and coordinated actions”.

He described the conference as a timely and crucial initiative, especially in light of the growing security challenges that threaten the stability of the region.

Murkomen stressed that to effectively tackle these issues and adapt to rapid changes, renewed collaboration and cooperation among intelligence organizations are essential.

“The misuse of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to spread disinformation, inflammatory rhetoric, and perpetrate tech-related threats like cyber fraud is a significant concern for all of us,” he concluded.