Juba Hosts Regional Communications Leaders for First Time

(JUBA) – South Sudan has hosted the 30th General Assembly of the East African Communications Organisation (EACO) for the first time, bringing together regulators, telecom operators, broadcasters, civil society and cybersecurity experts from across the region.

The five day event was held from 9 to 13 June in Juba, convened under the theme “Shaping the Future of East African Region through Digital Transformation.” Delegates attended from all seven EACO member states, marking an important milestone for South Sudan as it officially assumed the chairmanship of the organisation.

Among those attending were representatives of Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF), including Chairperson Nelson Kwaje, IT Officer Tony Kenyi, Incident Response Officer Dhel Malith, Media Monitor Makur Majeng and Administrator Imma Mike Nyadru. DRF said its participation reflected the importance of civil society input in digital policy, online safety and human rights.

Discussions throughout the week highlighted the need for coordinated strategies in telecommunications, postal services and broadcasting to support regional progress. Delegates stressed the importance of ensuring digital inclusion and protecting citizens against disinformation while strengthening data protection frameworks.

A key outcome of the gathering was the signing of a regional cooperation framework for Computer Emergency Response Teams and Computer Incident Response Teams (CERT/CIRT). The framework is expected to improve cross-border collaboration and response to cybersecurity threats across East Africa.

DRF representatives noted that this agreement represented a major advance for digital safety in the region. They said it recognised the urgent need for stronger partnerships between governments, civil society and technical experts.

Reports presented by assembly chairs also focused on challenges facing the region, including disinformation, weak data protection systems and the lack of digital inclusion for vulnerable groups. These are issues that DRF said align closely with its mission to promote safer and more inclusive use of technology.

The meeting concluded with South Sudan taking over the chairmanship of EACO, a development that participants described as a proud achievement and a step towards greater regional engagement.

According to DRF, participation in the assembly has broadened opportunities to contribute to policy development and digital safety programmes. The organisation said it intends to strengthen partnerships with national and regional CERTs while continuing to advocate for civic awareness and human rights in the digital sphere.

The gathering in Juba was described by delegates from Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF) as a valuable experience that showed how collective action and regional coordination can help to build a safer and more inclusive digital future.

Key Outcomes of EACO General Assembly in Juba