• The terrorist threat in the region continues to be preeminently shaped by the activities of:

– Tanẓīm al-Qā‘idah fī Bilād al-Maghrib al-Islāmī -Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM);

– Jamāat at-tawḥīd wal-jihād fī gharb afrīqqīyā -Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO),

– Katibat al-Mua'qi'oon Biddam-Those that Sign with Blood Brigade

– Ansar Eddine

– Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad (Boko Haram);

– Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru)

– Ansar Al-Shariaa (Northern Mali, Libya and Tunisia)

– Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen,

– Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA),

– Allied Democratic Force (ADF),

– Al Qaeda in East Africa, M23, and various militias.

– Growing links between some of these groups and as well as

– Their involvement in various other forms of crime.

LIFG

Arms/Drug

Trafficking Arms/Drug

Trafficking

Arms Trafficking

The Terrorist Threat in the region can be considered from the following

Perspectives:

• Threats arising from the geographical position

• Threats arising from the rapid development of religious charities

• Threats linked to the existence of networks making true/fake

identification and travel documents.

• Threats associated with the returnee jihadists

• Threats associated with radicalization and indoctrination of minors

• Threats associated with the financing of terrorism

• Cross-Border Threats

***Victims including 604 terrorists dead

• Various forms of trafficking and transnational organized crimes provide organized crime and terrorist networks fertile ground for their enrichment.

• The recent appearance of drugs has become a reason for increased concern, in view of its destabilizing effects on the region.

• This situation exacerbated by new crimes such as hostage taking for ransom

• The increased flow of weapons in the region have further fuelled the activities of organized crime and terrorist groups.

• Crimes such as car theft and armed attacks have increased as a consequence to the availability of arms.

• Which resulted in Proliferation of Terrorist groups and confirmed nexus with Organized Crime

• Remains the second most active and exposed region to Terrorism

• Groups exercise a mixture of criminal and terrorist action.

• The substantial amounts of funds generated contributed to the present instability

• Exploitation of local grievances and socio-economic conditions to recruit and develop new networks

• Ideological based terrorism eliminated/Reduced

• Flotation of Manpower between Group • Diversion of Fighters from other Theatres

• Emergence of Narco-Terrorism: MUJAO (financed by Narco-trafficking)

– Cooperation with Boko Haram, Ansaru and Al-Shabaab

• New forms of Mercenarism and subcontracting

– Multinational force (guns for Hire)

– Child Soldiers

– Kidnapping

• The countries visited have adopted some form of national CT strategy which has evolved into a comprehensive program that takes into account all aspects of counterterrorism

• All countries have identified as main priorities the development and strengthening of their CT legislation with a view of meeting their international obligations (resolution 1371 requirements)

• This had led the countries to put in place committees to draft reports to the Security Council and other committees to review and adjust the existing laws

• The different national CT stakeholders cooperate and collaborate in either formal or informal mechanisms

• The National CT legal regimes are reflected in a number of laws that criminalize specific terrorist acts, these vary from one country to another but mainly they are based on: – The national Constitution

– The Penal Code

– Criminal procedures code

– Anti-money laundering legislation

– Specific financing of terrorism legislation

– Extradition act

– Weapons and munitions act

– Civet aviation act

– Regulation of asylum act

– Antiterrorism act…. etc.

• The legislation in place establishes:

–Offences; Sanctions/Punishment;

–Territorial Competence;

–Criminal Procedures;

–special investigative measures;

–Legislation on weapons, explosives and hazardous materials; Legislation on asylum, refugees and immigration;

–extradition procedures and cases of extradition refusal (no extradition of nationals)

– International Cooperation in legal matters

• Most of the countries visited have received assistance from the UNODC in the domesticating of international obligations into national legislation

• The countries either lacked experience in trying terrorism cases or their criminal justice mechanisms are not fully in place to deal with acts of terrorism. This includes the lack of comprehensive legislative investigative and prosecutorial frameworks

• Countries have not yet put in place specialized judicial pool, comprising specialized judges, prosecutors and investigators on terrorism;

• Most of the legislation in place do not to take into account the new modus operandi of terrorists and special investigation techniques, such as wiretapping, and cyber investigations.

• Need to further develop the skills and understanding, of the legislation in place and its implementation, of all relevant stakeholders…etc.

• the challenge of striking a balance between the urgency of the investigation and right of the accused (due diligence)

• Examples of Human Rights Commissions regularly monitoring, training and advising on the respect of Human Rights by the Security agencies. Is some cases

• Security agencies have set up a Human Rights Desk where any Human Rights Complaints are handled.

• Establishment of a specialized national judicial pole, comprising specialized judges, prosecutors and investigators on terrorism;

• The need to amend anti-terrorism legislation to take into account the new modus operandi of terrorists and special investigation techniques

• Need to provide additional training to judges, prosecutors and investigators in terrorism related cases.

• Similarly, the specialized units of the police and intelligence should receive appropriate training in the fight against terrorism, in particular in the gathering and admissibility of evidence.

• conclude extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements, where necessary, and adopt the legislation that would enable Member States to cooperate effectively

• review existing extradition and mutual legal assistance legislation,

• simplify and streamline extradition and mutual legal assistance procedures, including the provision of sufficient information to the concerned States, to enable extradition and mutual legal assistance

The AUC through the ACSRT will continue to:

• Give priority to capacity building,

• Promote better institutional interaction and coordination at national and regional levels and development of Early Warning Mechanism (EWM)

• Following the adoption of the AU CT Model Law in July 2011, the improvement of legal framework:

– Continue to work on the establishment of the African Arrest Warrant (AAW), the African passport stop list, and

– the finalization of Model Conventions on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance agreements.

– Promoting the establishment of Judicial Regional Platforms to strengthen international cooperation in criminal matters.

– Develop guidelines for the establishment of integrated, inter-agency Fusion Centers