Overview
Somalia’s digital ecosystem is expanding rapidly, but expansion without integration, locally rooted infrastructure, trusted identity systems, and cybersecurity readiness creates as many challenges as it solves. SomNOG9 responds to this reality directly, bringing together Somalia’s technical community, policymakers, operators, academics, and development partners to address the infrastructure and governance priorities that will define the next chapter of Somalia’s digital transformation.
SomNOG9 is the ninth annual event organized by the Somali Network Operators Group. The six-day event will be held in Mogadishu from 22 to 27 August 2026, comprising three days of hands-on technical workshops, a tutorials day, and a two-day conference.
Conference Theme
Main Theme: “Connected by Design: Advancing Somalia’s Digital Infrastructure and Integrated Public Services“
The conference will examine the following four sub-themes:
- Sub-Theme 1: Digital Infrastructure and Sovereignty
Focus: Local traffic exchange, local hosting infrastructure, and data sovereignty. - Sub-Theme 2: Interoperability and Integrated Services
Focus: Connecting disconnected systems, Government Enterprise Architecture, and citizen-centered service delivery. - Sub-Theme 3: Digital Identity and Trust
Focus: PKI, Digital Public Infrastructure, digital identity frameworks, and trusted digital transactions. - Sub-Theme 4: Cybersecurity and National Resilience
Focus: National cyber resilience, incident response, cybersecurity governance, and infrastructure protection.
Call for Presentations
SomNOG invites qualified professionals, academics, researchers, and practitioners to contribute to SomNOG9. We welcome technical presentations, operational case studies, research papers, and lightning talks aligned with the conference theme and sub-themes.
Important dates:
- Abstract submission deadline: TBC
- Notification of acceptance: TBC
- Final presentation deadline: TBC
- Conference: 26 – 27 August 2026
Submit your abstract through the SomNOG9 event page: https://events.somaliren.org.so/event/138/abstracts/
An account is required to submit but can be created in a few minutes.
Plenary Sessions
Each session will feature presentations by professionals and experts in their respective domains, concluded with plenary panel discussions among participants. The SomNOG9 Communique will be issued at the close of the conference. As with previous editions, the proceedings report and individual presentations will be published on the conference page following the event.
About SomNOG
The Somali Network Operators Group (SomNOG) is a community-driven, volunteer-based technical organization established in 2015. SomNOG provides an open, neutral platform for Somali ICT professionals to develop technical capacities, share operational knowledge, and collaborate on strengthening Somalia’s Internet and digital ecosystem. SomNOG is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. SomNOG’s motto is: “Towards a better Internet, through effective collaboration.”
The Ninth Annual Event of the Somali Network Operators’ Group
SomNOG9 will be held in Mogadishu from 22 to 27 August 2026 and will comprise the following activities:
- SomNOG9 Workshops: 22 – 24 August 2026
Four concurrent hands-on workshops on Internet and network technologies. The workshops are designed to upskill working professionals and graduates in ICT, telecommunications, and related disciplines. - Tutorials Day: 25 August 2026
Four specialist tutorial sessions running concurrently, cloud infrastructure and security, online safety, digital trust in practice, DevOps and automation workflows, and wireless infrastructure deployment. - SomNOG9 Conference: 26 – 27 August 2026
A two-day conference bringing together professionals from the ICT sector, policymakers, Internet service providers, academics, and other stakeholders to discuss current issues and explore opportunities for Somalia’s Internet and digital ecosystem.