A two-day meeting on counter-terrorism ended yesterday in Kigali with a call on member countries of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) to put more efforts in measures to counter radicalism activities.
A two-day meeting on counter-terrorism ended yesterday in Kigali with a call on member countries of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) to put more efforts in measures to counter radicalism activities.
States, they resolved, should engage community leaders, civil society and faith-based organisations in particular, experts and other counter terrorism stakeholders in raising awareness and other activities against violent extremism.
Other resolutions include states to encourage and support Training of Trainers (ToT) courses; utilisation of the counter-terror training manual and standard operating procedures to enhance the capacity of law enforcement officers; fast-track the establishment and capacitating bomb data centres; and develop clear mechanisms to share terrorism related information.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza, while officiating at the closure of the workshop said: "One of the most serious challenges in the war against terrorism is to know when, where and with what means terrorists are likely to attack.”
"Field training and command post exercises aimed at conducting rehearsals and perfecting drills to respond or fight terror attacks are one of the most viable strategies we have to implement as a region,” the DIGP said.
He observed that the threat of terrorism in the region in presently real; and the future is uncertain if there are no effective preparations and adequate security systems, sharing of intelligence on terror networks.
The 3rd regional counter terrorism meet brought together experts from 10 EAPCCO countries, international agencies and supporting countries, under the theme: "sustaining regional cooperation to combat counter-terrorism and violent extremism.”