MOGADISHU, (HAN) – The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) has announced the launch of a three-year initiative aimed at curbing the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by terrorist groups in East Africa.
The project, titled “Supporting East Africa to Counter the Use of IEDs by Terrorists”, will strengthen counterterrorism legislation and build the capacity of national institutions in Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda to better prevent and respond to IED-related threats.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the initiative will be implemented by the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) under UNOCT, in collaboration with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
According to UN data, from 2020 to 2024 the use of IEDs by non-state armed groups in Africa rose by an average of 12% annually, making them the most frequently deployed weapon by terrorist organizations. Early 2025 figures suggest the upward trend is continuing, with East Africa among the hardest-hit regions.
The UN has urged member states to tighten controls preventing terrorist access to weapons, warning that IEDs and other homemade explosives are increasingly being used in militant operations.
