28 January 2026
Terrorist groups in East Africa are increasingly using virtual spaces to further their agendas. By leveraging digital channels such as social media, messaging platforms, and online forums, these groups quickly and easily further their rhetoric, recruit followers, solicit finances, and undermine trust in government institutions.
At the same time, internet accessibility and time spent online, particularly by young people, are also rising. However, many countries lack comprehensive national communications strategies that effectively address the current digital threat landscape. This warrants the need to develop localized, evidence-based, and proactive strategic communications approaches that support national frameworks to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism (P/CVE), reinforce public trust, and reduce the appeal of terrorist ideologies online.
To this end, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group (EA WG) – co-chaired by Kenya and Kuwait – organized an in-person activity in Kuwait City, Kuwait, with a particular emphasis on protecting virtual spaces from exploitation and developing counter narratives that undermine messaging that promotes VE conducive to terrorism. Featuring a combination of presentations and panel discussions, the meeting served as a coordination platform to build regional capacity on monitoring virtual spaces, report content around VE conducive to terrorism, discredit terrorist propaganda, and utilize tools for sentiment analysis.
The EA WG Co-Chairs convened a diverse group of relevant stakeholders to attend including communications experts across government entities involved in counterterrorism and P/CVE, GCTF Members, and selected countries from the East Africa region. Participants fostered knowledge-sharing on emerging good practices, helped build institutional and technical capabilities, and encouraged regional collaboration. In turn, countries are better equipped to develop more holistic and integrated national action plans for P/CVE online.
Enhancing strategic communications for P/CVE online was identified as a priority area that aligns with key terrorism and violent extremism threats in East Africa by the EA WG in their 2024–2026 Work Plan. Kenya and Kuwait, in their capacities as Working Group Co-Chairs, will continue to support necessary capacity-building efforts against the terrorist threat in the region.