By: Sintayehu Tamirat
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) highlights that the Horn and East African region is a hub for various transnational security threats, with terrorism being a major concern. The area serves as a source, transit point, and final destination for these threats.
Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of IGAD Peace and Security Division (IGAD PSD), told EBC World several root causes for terrorism and other transnational security threats to have a strong hold in the region.
“The first one is the failed state of Somalia. After the oust of Col. Mohammed Siad Barre, there were power vacuums in Somalia that most terrorist groups from the Middle East and other areas have got a fertile ground there.”
The Sudan and S. Sudan crisis, inter and intra state conflicts, poverty and unemployment, porous, open, long and uncontrolled borders, trans boundary resources, drought and famine, among others, have also been the major causes for terrorism and security threats to get a fertile ground in the Horn and east Africa region, he added.
“All member states have been affected by terrorism,” the director noted. For the last two decades, IGAD has been exerting efforts to contain terrorism in the region, he said. And these efforts have gone fruitful.
The IGAD has been partnering with the UN, the UN Security Council, the African Union African Peace and Security Council, African Center for Research and Study on Terrorism, Afripol, Civipol and the EU among others in its efforts to tackle the evils of terrorism, the Director, Commander Abebe mentioned.
Commending Ethiopia’s fight against terrorism, the Director said, “Ethiopia is showing unwavering and steadfast commitment for countering terrorism.” Ethiopia has been paying the price in significant human and material costs from its long-standing fight against terrorism in Somalia, particularly against al-Shabaab. Ethiopia has deployed extensive troops to the African Union mission (AMISOM/ATMIS).
“Just to fight terrorism Ethiopia has been in the forefront. It has been fighting al-Shebab deploying human power, a lot of logistics and finance. This all is her commitment to deter the spread of terrorism to other states in the region and beyond.”
Over the years, the authority has encountered several challenges like internal instability, financial constraints and the increase in number of mercenaries in conflicts in the region in undertaking its counterterrorism programs, said Com. Abebe.
