The First Africa Terrorism Bulletin- First Quarter 2023

Understanding the factors sustaining the momentum of the terrorist groups, and identifying the gaps in the CT Approaches (both kinetic and soft approaches) would contribute significantly to prioritising interventions with the aim of reversing the current threat levels. [...] Also threatening the gains made by the MNJTF in the LCB is the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region and the conflict in Libya which continue to serve as source and safe havens for the movement of fighters in the region. [...] The increasing use of IEDs in the region suggests that experienced Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) are in the area, and ISCAP is fast developing the technical competence of manufacturing and deploying these devices, something that could in the near future change the landscape of the terrorism situation in eastern DRC. [...] The lack of effective protection of stockpiles of arms and ammunition in many regions of the Continent, particularly the Sahel region, Horn of Africa, and the Lake Chad Basin constitutes a setback to the fight against violent extremism and terrorism. [...] Mercenaries and Private Military Contractors (PMC): The Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, the Johannesburg Declaration on Silencing the Guns in Africa, as well as the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Gun in Africa by 2030 underscores the need for AU members’ states to control arms circulation and avoid the use of mercenaries.