In the past years, the threat of terrorism has significantly increased in Southern Africa with terrorist groups seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the region. Challenges related to the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, terrorism financing and recruitment networks have further complicated matters and related efforts to contain the threat.
The Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a group in Mozambique have demonstrated their ability to travel, fund activities and carry out attacks. These groups have more than 1,800 fighters under their command and pose a significant threat to Southern Africa.
The activities of these groups have also recently affected the security of Malawi. As such, the country responded by scaling up efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and on 3 October 2023, launched its national counter-terrorism strategy.
This achievement follows two years of close partnership between the Government of Malawi, UNODC, the South African Development Community (SADC) and the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT). The objective of this cooperation is to strengthen the capacity of Malawi at the policy, legislative and operational levels to effectively detect and prevent terrorist activity and to bring terrorists to justice.
From The Shadows Emerges Knowledge