25 September 2024
Against the backdrop of the ongoing and increasingly transnational threat of terrorism and the evolving nature of violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa, the East Africa Capacity-Building (EA) Working Group held their first side event under the Kenya-Kuwait mandate. The side event outlined their ambitious Work Plan to operationalize the GCTF EA WG around five priority lines of effort that align with key terrorism and violent extremism threats across East Africa.
Alongside showcasing their workplan, the aim of the side event was to galvanize GCTF capacity and convening power to support countries of East Africa in their fight against terrorism, building political and financial support for the Working Group’s efforts for the coming two-year period. The EA WG, implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, invited partners to join forces with Kenya and Kuwait to ensure successful operationalization of the activities of the EA WG and its adjacent activities. This side event convened GCTF Members, countries of the East Africa Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and key partner organizations, including Intergovernmental Authority on Development, SADC, COMESA, the East African Community, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact partners.
The EA WG 2024-2026 Work Plan was endorsed at the twenty-fourth GCTF Coordinating Committee meeting and outlined a bold, holistic work plan focusing on five thematic priority areas: Preventing and countering violence extremism, network disruption, strategic communications, investigation and prosecution, and disengagement; deradicalization; rehabilitation; and reintegration. Looking forward, the next steps for the Working Group will be holding thematic workshops on their priorities across the East Africa region and Kuwait.