Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is scheduled to unveil a major strategy to counter and prevent violent extremism in the region.
The Launch of the strategy which takes place Today in Djibouti comes at when terror attacks in the member states increased significantly.
In a statement, the bloc said the launch of the strategy initiatives in member countries is a response to the UN’s call for member countries to develop a coordinated strategy to fighting terrorism.
The unveiling of the strategy coincides with the inauguration of ceremony of the bloc’s Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE).
The nine-member trade bloc said the ICEPCVE will be instrumental in institutionalizing the prevention and countering of violent extremism in the Horn and Eastern Africa Region.
“This Center of Excellence is intended to serve as a resource for governments, civil societies, youth, religious leaders, experts, practitioners, business people, and others interested in addressing violent extremism,” the statement reads.
The Center seeks to empower youth, women, religious leaders and civil society by enhancing their capacity in countering violent extremist ideology by helping generate positive alternatives for young people vulnerable to violent extremist recruitment.
“This Center of Excellence is intended to serve as a resource for governments, civil societies, youth, religious leaders, experts, practitioners, business people, and others interested in addressing violent extremism,” the statement reads.
It also seeks to improve law enforcement and security-force engagement with local communities and to prevent radicalization to violence in prisons while at the same time rehabilitating disengaged fighters, including foreign terrorist fighters.
The members of the bloc include Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
Discussion about this post