Thursday, 23 July 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 23 July 2026

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Namibian press · Person

Mufaro Nesongano

2025-12-162026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

March 2026
17 MarThe Namibian
Mufaro Nesongano calls on companies to strengthen security by implementing robust security controls and other measures
Source
“Communication and consumer relations executive Mufaro Nesongano calls on companies to strengthen security by implementing robust security controls, enforcing governance of security policies and activating multifactor authentication.”
Cran urges companies to tighten cybersecurity posture
17 MarInformanté
Mufaro Nesongano, Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations at CRAN said cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and incidents serve as reminder to strengthen cyber resilience
Source
“"Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Incidents such as this serve as an important reminder for organisations across all sectors to strengthen their cyber resilience and remain vigilant against evolving digital threats," said Mufaro Nesongano, Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations at CRAN.”
Namibia Airports Company addresses cybersecurity incident, reports limited disruption
February 2026
26 FebNew Era
Mufaro Nesongano is the executive for communication and consumer relations at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia
Source
“*Mufaro Nesongano is the executive for communication and consumer relations at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran).”
Opinion – External attack surface essentials: What all organisations must monitor
12 FebNew Era
Mufaro Nesongano is Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations at Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia
Source
“*Mufaro Nesongano is the Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran).”
Opinion – Post-festive cybersecurity risks
January 2026
29 JanNew Era
Cran spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano stated Cran will not be affected by cuts as funded by regulatory fees
Source
“Cran will not be affected by the cuts, as they are not directly subsidised but funded by regulatory fees, spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano said.”
Budget axe falls on ICT parastatals
27 JanThe Namibian
Mufaro Nesongano says will not be using StarLink
Source
“Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano says IShowSpeed will not be using StarLink and all terms remain the same for the streamer.”
IShowSpeed set to arrive in Namibia on Tuesday
December 2025
16 DecThe Namibian
Cran spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano reported that cyber-threat events declined by 53% in Q3 2025
Source
“"Reported cyber-threat events declined significantly by approximately 53% in quarter three of 2025. However, exposure levels and underlying vulnerabilities remained largely unchanged, suggesting that the reduction stems more from shifts in scanning activity than a true decrease in cyber risk," Nesongano says.”
Namibians spend N$928 million on data in three months

Society

Namibian authorities warn public against rising vishing scams

The News

Despite mandatory SIM registration, Namibians face an increase in vishing (voice phishing) scams, in which scammers use phone calls to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive information or transferring money. Regulatory authorities including Cran, MTC, and the Bank of Namibia stress that while SIM registration improves accountability, it cannot fully address advanced social engineering tactics.

13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 July

Namibian authorities warn public against rising vishing scams
Despite mandatory SIM registration, Namibians face an increase in vishing (voice phishing) scams, in which scammers use phone calls to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive information or transferring money. Regulatory authorities including Cran, MTC, and the Bank of Namibia stress that while SIM registration improves accountability, it cannot fully address advanced social engineering tactics.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 July

NAM-CSIRT reports significant decline in cyber threats, vulnerabilities
Namibia's cyber security incident response team reported that detected cyber vulnerabilities declined by 31.3% and reported cyber threat events decreased by 47.3% during the first quarter of 2026, though exposed remote management services and legacy network protocols remain significant risks.
2 July 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 24 June

Mobile internet usage rises 6%, driven by social media
Mobile internet usage increased by 6% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, according to CRAN's Quarterly Statistics Bulletin, with social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube driving data consumption, while fixed broadband subscriptions rose 5% and fibre services grew 10%.
24 June 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 23 June

CRAN alerts 13 Namibian organisations to FortiBleed cyber threat
Namibia's cyber security incident response team has warned 13 local organisations that their systems may have been exposed in FortiBleed, a global cyber attack affecting tens of thousands of Fortinet FortiGate security devices worldwide. The incident exposed administrator usernames, passwords, remote access credentials and security settings, potentially allowing criminals unauthorised network access.
23 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 22 June

Global FortiBleed cyber threat exposes 13 Namibian organisations
A cybersecurity incident called FortiBleed may have exposed administrator credentials and firewall configuration data at 13 Namibian organisations that use Fortinet infrastructure. The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team identified the affected organisations and recommended they reset credentials, add multifactor authentication, and upgrade their Fortinet devices.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 9 June

CRAN receives 624 Starlink licence reconsideration applications
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has received 624 applications for reconsideration of its decision on Starlink Internet Services Namibia's licence application. The applications were submitted by members of the public and interested stakeholders, not by Starlink itself, and will be processed according to the Communications Act and relevant regulatory procedures.
9 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
CRAN receives 624 reconsideration requests on Starlink ruling
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has received 624 applications for reconsideration following its decision on Starlink Internet Services Namibia's licence application. The authority said the reconsideration process will follow established legal and regulatory procedures under the Communications Act.
9 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 8 June

Over 600 applications seek Cran review of Starlink licence rejection
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has received 624 applications from the public and interested stakeholders requesting reconsideration of its March decision to reject Starlink's licence application. Cran said it will process the applications through established legal and regulatory procedures under the Communications Act of 2009.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 28 May

Cran defends fixed regulatory fee rates for broadcasters
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia says its proposed regulatory levy increases consider challenges faced by broadcasters. The new system replaces progressive rates with fixed rates: telecommunications companies at 2.25% of annual revenue and broadcasters at 1.2%, designed to ensure fairness across licensees within each sector.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 31 March

Ransomware group leaks NAC stolen data on dark web
Data breached in a cyberattack on Namibia Airports Company has been released on the dark web by the INC Ransomware Group, including airport permits, parking databases, engineering files, and financial records. Authorities are investigating whether sensitive or personally identifiable information is among the leaked files and urge organisations to strengthen cybersecurity measures.
31 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 30 March

Namibia Cyber Team Confirms NAC Data Breach Publication Online
NAM-CSIRT has confirmed that data stolen in a cyberattack on Namibia Airports Company has been published online, with preliminary assessments indicating the leaked data may include airport permit records, parking management information, engineering documentation, financial records, and internal reports. The attack, detected on 6 March 2026, involved approximately 500GB of data and is linked to the INC Ransomware Group, marking the second known attack by this group in Namibia.
30 March 2026 · Informanté →
Cran urges responsible handling of NAC data breach
The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has called for responsible handling of information related to the Namibia Airports Company data leak, warning that circulation of unverified data may place individuals and organisations at further risk. The NAC was attacked by the Inc Ransomware Group on 19 March; leaked data includes financial records, internal reports, and engineering documents, though NAC says operations remain unaffected.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

Cran declines Starlink licence application in Namibia
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has rejected Starlink's applications for both a class comprehensive telecommunications service licence and a Spectrum licence for satellite internet services. The decision was published in the Government Gazette, with the authority citing that Starlink has 0% Namibian citizen ownership, and aggrieved parties may petition for reconsideration within 90 days.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

Ransomware attack exposes Namibia Airports Company to data theft threat
The Namibia Airports Company suffered a ransomware attack by the INC Ransomware Group, with hackers claiming to have stolen 500 gigabytes of sensitive data including financial records, HR files, and customer information. The attackers have threatened to release the data after a countdown timer expires unless demands are met, making NAC the second confirmed Namibian victim of the group after an Otjiwarongo Municipality breach in 2025.
23 March 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 22 March

Namibia Airports Company suffers 500GB data breach by INC Ransomware
The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team confirmed that hackers linked to the INC Ransomware Group unauthorisedly accessed Namibia Airports Company's network and stole approximately 500GB of data, including financial records, HR data, and customer information. The group uses "double-extortion" tactics involving data theft and system encryption, and has threatened to release the stolen data after a countdown period.
22 March 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 20 March

Namibia's mobile users grow 9% as prepaid dominates
According to CRAN's latest quarterly statistics, Namibian mobile phone users increased from 2.563 million to 2.788 million year-on-year, with prepaid subscriptions driving the growth by 5%. Mobile broadband use continues to rise, particularly via phones and fixed wireless connections, with 62% of SIM cards now used for internet access.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
Cran confirms INC Ransom group behind NAC cyberattack
The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia has confirmed that the INC Ransom cybercriminal group was responsible for last week's attack on Namibia Airports Company, claiming to have exfiltrated approximately 500GB of data including financial records, HR information, and customer details. This is the second Namibian entity targeted by the group after an attack on Otjiwarongo municipality last year.
20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 18 March

Namibia Airports Company suffers cyber breach, networks restored
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) disclosed a cybersecurity breach detected on 6 March involving unauthorised network access, though airport services have been restored and there is no confirmed data theft. The incident prompted the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team to issue a public advisory and call on all organisations to strengthen cyber resilience through enhanced security measures.
18 March 2026 · New Era →
Active SIM cards grow 4% in final quarter 2025
Namibia's active SIM card subscriptions rose to 2.788 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 2.674 million in Q3, driven largely by a 5% increase in prepaid services, according to communications regulator Cran. Mobile broadband subscriptions grew 4%, while fixed-line subscriptions continued to decline.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

Cran urges companies to strengthen cybersecurity after airport breach
Following a cybersecurity incident at Namibia Airports Company, the Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia has urged organisations to tighten security by implementing robust controls, enforcing governance policies, activating multifactor authentication, and conducting continuous cybersecurity awareness training.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia Airports Company confirms cybersecurity breach, limited disruption reported
Namibia Airports Company detected a cybersecurity incident on 6 March 2026 involving unauthorised access to network infrastructure and administrative accounts. Services have been restored with limited operational impact, and there is no evidence of data exfiltration, though investigations continue; NAM-CSIRT and NAC are working together to enhance security resilience.
17 March 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 8 March

Namibia debates social media ban for children under 15
Namibian lawmakers and child welfare experts are divided over whether to ban social media for children under 15, with supporters citing mental health and cyberbullying concerns while critics argue for evidence-based regulation rather than an outright ban. Experts also note that enforcement would be technically challenging given the ease of age verification manipulation.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

Opinion: Organisations must monitor external cybersecurity attack surfaces
An executive from the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia argues that continuous monitoring of an organisation's external attack surface—all internet-facing digital assets and entry points—is essential to modern security. The article outlines key components to monitor including public-facing infrastructure, cloud assets, third-party connections, digital certificates, and exposed credentials.
26 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 12 February

Post-holiday cyber threats escalate as offices reopen
Security experts warn that the weeks after the festive break are a critical period for cybercrime, with heightened risks from phishing, business email compromise, WhatsApp account hijacking, and ransomware attacks on unpatched systems and unattended devices.
12 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 29 January

ICT parastatals face three-year budget cuts of three percent annually
Information Minister Emma Theofelus announced that parastatals under the information ministry will have their subsidies reduced by 3% annually for the next three years, with government expecting them to develop alternative revenue streams and achieve greater financial independence while still meeting public service mandates.
29 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 27 January

American streamer IShowSpeed arrives in Namibia on Tuesday
Content creator Darren Watkins Jr, known as IShowSpeed, is set to arrive in Namibia on Tuesday as part of his Africa StreamTour, after delays due to aviation permit issues. The Communication Regulatory Authority has confirmed he will not use StarLink during his stay.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →