IGAD Working to engage communities to counter Terrorism

Representatives from IGAD member states are attending a three day seminar on community engagement to counter terrorism.

The Co-Director of Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation James Cockayne opened the 3 days training by outlining ways of overcoming terrorism. The seminar was organized with the theme “Community Engagement to Counter Terrorism.” IGAD’s Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism – ICPAT in collaboration with the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation – CGCC organized the three day meeting. The meeting aims at providing an opportunity for officials of the member states to meet with expert practitioners and obtain valuable insights on innovative programming. It is being held here at Harmony Hotel. The meeting also provides an opportunity to obtain best practices on community engagement to counter terrorism. In an exclusive interview with Afro FM at the event, W/o Netsanet Asfaw, the Director for Peace and Security Division of Intergovernmental Authority on Development – IGAD said communities have an influential role in overcoming terrorism. At the opening event, Ato Abebe Muluneh, Head of the IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism, presented a paper on “Community Policing.” In his presentation, Ato Abebe reiterated on the need for partnership between police and citizens if community policing is to succeed. Representatives from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda are among the participants of the meeting. This meeting is part of a broader effort by the IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism ICPAT and Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation CGCC to strengthen sub-regional cooperation and expertise in preventing terrorism in East Africa. (AFRO FM)