Heightened measures to prevent IEDs use
Security agencies have heightened anti-terrorism preventive efforts aimed at countering increasing use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Stakeholders in the sector argued that Al-Shabaab has become one of Africa’s deadliest terrorist groups through its increasingly sophisticated use of IEDs.
The UK’s Defence Attaché to Kenya Brigadier Ronnie Westerman said IEDs continue to be a deadly threat across Africa and there is need for deployment of best practice for better C-IED coordination across the continent.
Westerman noted the devices pose the greatest threat to Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) and troops from other contributing countries who are fighting Al-Shabaab as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
According to Westerman, the IED threat is not just limited to AMISOM but also to the Kenyan security services regularly targeted using IEDs by Al-Shabaab within the borders.
“Africa’s long-term stability matters to the UK, which is why we are delighted to be sponsoring this important event. We congratulate Kenya and the Humanitarian Peace Support School for hosting this conference and to the participants for taking the time to collaborate.
"The UK will continue working closely alongside our close allies the US and with the AU and the UN to provide support to the much needed training and operational direction to deter the influence of al Shabaab. If we do not pull together to collaborate and coordinate our response to this threat then the terrorist wins,” said Westerman during the fourth defence conference on C-IED at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi yesterday.
