| Publication |
2009.
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| Summary/Abstract |
In this article an overview is provided of the terrorist threat and vulnerabilities in eastern
Africa, where all countries have been victimised by terrorism in one form or another,
and of the capacity of governments to respond.
The article highlights both the lack of sub-regional counterterrorism cooperation and
the emphasis that has so far been placed on the need for military, law enforcement, and
other security-related responses to the threat. It calls for a broader-based, long-term
strategy in eastern Africa not only to thwart and respond to terrorist attacks, but to
prevent the violent radicalisation of local populations which might resort to terrorism
in the future.
The article looks at the response at the sub-regional level and what has developed
into the primary mechanism for fostering deeper sub-regional cooperation, the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Capacity Building Programme against
Terrorism, and how these may be improved. It also examines how the United Nations
can help strengthen that cooperation and the opportunity offered by the UN Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It argues that ICPAT, with its technical focus and relative
success to date, offers a solid foundation to improve counterterrorism cooperation in
eastern Africa and between the sub-region and the United Nations, and has a key role to
play in carrying forward implementation of the UN Strategy, serving as an interlocutor
between the sub-region and the international community.
It concludes that counterterrorism efforts in eastern Africa need to be grounded in the
needs and priorities of countries in the sub-region and that more must be done by key
counterterrorism donors, UN agencies, and others not only to enhance the securityrelated
capacities of countries in sub-region but to address the underlying conditions
conducive to the spread of terrorism there as well.
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