- Events
On the margins of the Fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week, the Governments of Canada and Kenya, in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT), the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵMAS), convened a side event on ¡°Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation to Counter Terrorist Use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): Advancing Member States' Leadership to Enhance Prevention and Response Capacities in Eastern Africa¡± on 1 July 2026. The event brought together Member States, regional organizations, United Nations entities and practitioners to examine the evolving IED threat in Eastern Africa and identify practical ways to strengthen prevention and response capacities.
The discussion built on a series of national capacity consultations conducted in Kenya, Somalia and Uganda, as well as a regional expert meeting held earlier this year in Nairobi. These engagements identified shared challenges and priorities across the region, including gaps in legislative and regulatory frameworks, controls on explosive precursor materials, inter-agency coordination, information-sharing mechanisms and operational capacities to investigate and respond to IED incidents.
Participants highlighted that IEDs remain a major threat in Eastern Africa, with terrorist groups continuing to exploit cross-border networks, dual-use materials and emerging technologies. They stressed that effective responses require stronger cooperation, information-sharing and coordinated action at all levels.
The importance of legal cooperation and effective investigations and prosecutions in advancing accountability and long-term prevention efforts was also underscored. The side event highlighted work carried out through a Canada-funded project under Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT¡¯s Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Use of Weapons.
Participants also reaffirmed that no Member State can effectively address the terrorist use of IEDs in isolation. Sustained cooperation, stronger regional mechanisms and continued investment in national capacities are essential to adapting to evolving terrorist tactics and technologies. The event concluded with a shared commitment to advance practical, regionally driven solutions that strengthen resilience, enhance cooperation and help reduce the threat posed by IEDs across Eastern Africa.
Useful resources
Quotes
Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and Executive Director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCCT: ¡°IEDs are among the most frequently used weapons by terrorists, causing mass casualties and undermining stability and development. Strengthening prevention and response capacities is essential to addressing this evolving threat.¡±
Ms. Carmen G. Cantor, Deputy Executive Director of CTED: ¡°Terrorist groups in Eastern Africa continue to exploit porous borders, weak controls over precursor materials and gaps in information-sharing, underscoring the need for more coordinated and comprehensive responses.¡±
Ms. Jeea Saraswati, Director of the Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programs, Global Affairs Canada:¡°Strengthening legislative frameworks, enhancing law enforcement capacities, and improving inter-agency coordination are not abstract goals. They are essential pillars of an effective counter-IED architecture¡±.
Mr. Haruna Bazirondere Isabirye, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Uganda: ¡°The IED threat is regional, and therefore our response must also be regional. Multilateral cooperation is not optional; it is the only viable strategy.¡±
Mr. Idriss Mounir Lallali, Acting Director of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre: ¡°No State can effectively confront the IED threat in isolation. The response must be collective, regional and international.¡±
Ms. Rita Gunaryati Lubis, Deputy Director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵMAS: ¡°Addressing the evolving threat posed by IEDs requires sustained partnerships, strong national institutions and coordinated action. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵMAS remains committed to strengthening Counter-IED capacities, building resilient institutions and reducing the impact of explosive threats on communities.¡±