28 February 2024
GCTF Co-Chair, the EU, and new GCTF Member and Host of the Forum’s Twenty-Third Coordinating Committee Meeting, held a joint event on the margins of the Coordinating Committee Meeting to address the threats of violent extremism in East Africa through collaborative action on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
The East Africa Region faces a growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism which is a major concern to regional and international peace, security and stability. Terrorist groups active in the region have sought to entrench and expand their influence, exploiting synergized vulnerabilities and grievances, including a lack of education, gainful employment and a political voice especially among the youth. They also exploit conflict, poverty, inequality, the climate crisis, circulation of arms, ungoverned spaces including online, human rights violations, and challenges of governance among other factors. When combined, these can create an environment conducive to terrorist propaganda and recruitment. Terrorist groups have, in fact, demonstrated high levels of resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness by making use of such grievances and opportunities. Left unaddressed, there is significant risk of regional destabilization.
The meeting created a space for open and constructive dialogue between GCTF Members and practitioners from East African States. The inclusion of representatives from regional mechanisms that coordinate CT/PCVE efforts, such as the African Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Southern African Development Community on CT-P/CVE, ensured a comprehensive understanding of the regional landscape and enabled a discussion on a holistic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by violent extremism conducive to terrorism, including terrorism financing and media strategies. Through sharing experiences, participants drew on lessons learned, best practices, and innovative strategies that have proven effective in similar contexts. This knowledge exchange provided valuable insights for developing tailored approaches by the GCTF East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group (EA WG) to address the specific dynamics of the region.