East African countries have been urged to strengthen regional cooperation to tackle the growing threat of improvised explosive devices.
Speaking during a counter-terrorism capacity-building forum in Kwale, Kenya national director general counter-terrorism center,Kibien Kigen said. “There is no single country can address the threat alone” calling for coordinated efforts in intelligence sharing, law harmonization and border control.
The forum, held under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, brought together security experts and policymakers who deliberated on the latest security threats and ways to respond collectively to terrorism.
The members noted that there has been a proliferation of IED-related incidents which are usually traced to radical groups such as Al-Shabaab and the Allied Democratic Forces.
At the forum, analysts cautioned that ongoing problems, such as fragile legal and regulatory frameworks, porous borders, and the availability of components for manufacturing explosives, continue to worsen the threat situation in East Africa.
Members of the meeting demanded immediate action on strengthening national laws, intensifying cross-border surveillance, and boosting regional cooperation.