Learning from the experience of other African Member States: study visits for Malawi on inter-agency coordination to prevent and counter terrorism
From 29 April to 10 May 2024, the European Union – United Nations Global Terrorism Threats Facility organized for the Republic of Malawi four, back-to-back study visits on inter-agency coordination to prevent and counter-terrorism to Nairobi, Abidjan, Gaborone, and Tunis. A joint EU-缅北禁地initiative, the Facility is managed by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), to provide rapid and flexible technical assistance to Member States.
The study visits were conducted in support to the Law Commission of Malawi, which has undertaken to develop a comprehensive anti-terrorism bill to strengthen the country’s legal foundations to protect itself from and contribute to international efforts against terrorism. Mr. Mike Chinoko, the Commission’s Director of Law Reform, participated in the visits along with a senior official from Malawi’s National Intelligence Service. He stressed the importance of Malawi learning from the experiences of other Member States in Africa. “Malawi has been spared from the scourge of terrorism so far, but we cannot be complacent. We are working to ensure an adequate legal framework and effective institutional arrangements are in place in line with Malawi’s international obligations, the rule of law and human rights.”
In Kenya, the representatives of Malawi were hosted by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which coordinates the country’s whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to countering terrorism, with a strong emphasis on preventing and countering violent extremism. The study visit in Nairobi also showcased the investigative and operational coordination role of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and the work of the Kahawa Law Court, which specializes in terrorism-related cases.
In C?te d’Ivoire, the representatives of Malawi were briefed by Mr. Paulin Yéwé, Defense and Security Advisor at the Presidency of the Republic, on the guiding role of the National Security Council in coordinating a three-pronged strategy for anticipation, response, and resilience in the face of terrorism. Mr. Yéwé underscored that “C?te d’Ivoire applies a human security approach, involving actors beyond the security sector to build social cohesion and ensure service delivery for communities.” The representatives of Malawi also visited the Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Operational Centre to learn about joint analytical and operational efforts among the security forces, and exchanged with the National Human Rights Council on the importance of monitoring and training to embed counter-terrorism within human rights.
In Botswana, the study visit was hosted by the Counter-Terrorism Analysis and Fusion Division (CTAFD) under the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS). Mr. Nelson Tolo, DIS Deputy Director General, emphasized the need for joint analysis to be proactive in the face of terrorism. “Botswana is proud to share the experience of CTAFD with another member of the Southern African Development Community, and we are grateful for the support CTAFD has received from UNOCT in training its analysts, establishing a Passenger Information Unit, and piloting an inter-agency approach to assessing threats to civil aviation,” said Mr. Torto. With participation from other agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, the police, and the defense force, the discussions broached on a range of topics, including legislation, oversight, human rights, and operational coordination.
In Tunisia, the representatives of Malawi met with the National Commission for the Fight against Terrorism attached to the Presidency, and the counter-terrorism and organized crime fusion center under the Ministry of Interior. Ms. Neila Feki, President of the National Commission, recommended that a national counter-terrorism system must be able to adapt to the evolution of the terrorist threat. “It is also critical that actions to prevent violent extremism be tailored to the context of each region within the country, requiring local relays in the implementation of a national strategy,” she added. The representatives of Malawi were also impressed by the home-made intelligence analysis software developed and implemented by the Tunisian fusion center.
Reflecting on this series of study visits funded by the European Union, Ms. Maria Rosa Sabbatelli, Head of Unit for Global and Transregional Threats and Challenges at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) of the European Commission, underscored the priority attached by the European Union to supporting the counter-terrorism efforts of African Member States. “Africa is on the frontline in the fight against terrorism today. It is important for Member States to learn from each other’s first-hand efforts to deploy comprehensive and coordinated efforts anchored in the rule of law and human rights to face this threat.”