Share intelligence, states urged

Discord among intelligence agencies in Africa has largely been blamed for the upsurge in terrorism on the continent.

This gap has favoured terrorist groups that have regrouped and reconstituted their cells.

African Union’s Special Representative for Counter Terrorism Cooperation Francisco Madiera said if intelligence teams in Africa shared information, the networks would be broken and gangs weakened.

“The AU has not been able to defeat terrorism. This is posing a great threat to the continent whose development is being sabotaged,” he said.

Mr Madiera said the war on radicalisation and extremism will be won only when governments prioritise security issues by allocating more funds.

“International terrorism organisations recruit the youth through the use of incentives.

“They manage to convince the young people into believing in extremist ideologies by funding them,” he said.

Mr Madiera said Africa must come up with new ways of countering terror gangs that frequently come up with fresh strategies of attack.

“Governments must aim at eliminating the causes of terrorism, preventing perpetrators from launching raids, as well as enhancing the capability to limiting damages in the event of an attack,” Mr Madiera said.

CONFERENCE

He was speaking in Nairobi where more than 100 spy chiefs representing 52 African states are holding a week-long conference.

The forum is discussing how to tackle extremism and radicalisation.

The intelligence chiefs under the auspices of Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (Cissa), discussed the profiles of various terror gangs, the sources of their funding and the need to incorporate the civil society in fighting terrorism.

They also discussed means of tackling continued abductions, kidnappings, trafficking in arms and drugs, robbery, extortion and cattle rustling within the sub-region.

“Cohesion, harmonisation, coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders and networks is indispensable,” Mr Madiera said.

He urged governments to reinforce counter-terrorism technical and operational capacity through continuous training and practice.

ANALYSE PROBLEMS

Cissa executive secretary Isaac Moyo asked countries to get to the root of youth radicalisation by analysing their problems.

He said that Cissa was considering the formation of a Rapid Intervention Squad that would work together with intelligence agencies in Africa to counter insurgence and terrorism.

“No matter how prepared countries have been, terrorism has been ongoing, as fighting it needs more information exchange, coordination and resources,” Mr Moyo said.