8 September 2026
Terrorist activity in East Africa is complex and multifaceted, threatening regional stability, economic integration, and livelihoods. These cross-border counterterrorism challenges continue to impact the security landscape in the region, necessitating further global attention and cooperation efforts by key stakeholders and partners.
To aid these efforts, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group (EAWG) – co-chaired by Kenya and Kuwait – has made great strides around its 2024-2026 Workplan which was centered on five core operational and preventative pillars: Disengagement, De-radicalization, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation; Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism; Strategic Communication; Network Disruption; and Investigation and Prosecution.
To assess the work carried out thus far and inform future workplans, the Co-Chairs convened an in-person meeting in Nairobi, Kenya which brought together relevant regional, international, and local partners. With an understanding that regional security dynamics are always in flux, participants sought to formulate a unified regional consensus to determine an updated strategic framework to tackle emerging threats along with a standardized regional training calendar and methodology.
These efforts helped guide EAWG capacity-building efforts across the region with a focus on enhanced efficiency and sustainable collaboration among partners. Moving forward, the Working Group aims to take lessons learned from the implementation of the current workplan, consolidate meeting input and insights, and continue to work with regional experts and stakeholders in an effort to inform the 2026-2028 Workplan to ensure it remains relevant, adaptable, and impactful.