Role of Regional Organizations in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism-the Case of Igad

Abstract

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region has been the most conflict and terrorism torn zone in the world. Following the adoption of the Draft Implementation Plan to Counter Terrorism in 2003, IGAD has taken a more proactive role in strengthening cooperation against terrorism and transnational organized crime in region. The general objective of the study is to establish the role of regional organizations in countering terrorism and violent extremism: the case of IGAD. The study was guide by three specific objectives: to determine the causes of terrorism and violent extremism in IGAD region; to examine the measures implemented by Kenya in countering terrorism and violent extremism: the case of IGAD; and to analyze the challenges faced by regional organizations in countering terrorism and violent extremism: the case of IGAD. The study was anchored on regional security complex theory (RSCT). This research employed a case study approach. The target population of the study was 07 officers from IGAD offices in Nairobi. The study also targets the other staff members at the IGAD office in Nairobi. The data for this research was collected from both primary and secondary sources. An interview guide was used to collect data from the 7 officers at IGAD while a focus group discussion collected data from the other staff members at the IGAD office in Nairobi. The data collected was analyzed using content analysis and presented in narration form. The findings revealed that in the contemporary scholarly world, scholars believe that fanaticism in religion is a contributor to terrorism. Other factors identified to lead to terrorism included corruption, poor governance, poverty, and porous borders. The study also found that the measures adopted to Counter Terrorism and violent extremism in Kenya include the use of military, adoption of public policies, empowering the youth and collaborating with other nations in the war against terrorism. In addition, the study identified the challenges facing regional organizations such as IGAD in countering terrorism to include: poor coordination by member states, poor policies, poor policing, corruption, modernization and support from terror group sympathizers. The study recommends that better governance should be adopted. Also, the study recommends that proper policies need to be adopted not only in Kenya but by other members states of IGAD such as Somalia.