The fight against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which continue to pose a major security threat across Africa, has been said to be driven largely by continental solidarity, inter-agency cooperation, and international collaboration.
Kenya has been severely hit by IED attacks to the point of losing soldiers, police officers, and innocent civilians, Vice Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Jhon Omenda stated. He added that cross-border and international collaborations are very crucial in the war against terror.
On Tuesday, speaking while presiding over the 7th Africa Annual Counter-IED Conference at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi, Omenda said the conference attracted defence stakeholders from over 25 countries who exchanged best practices, gave operational updates, and deepened their understanding of IED threats and trends.
During the conference, the delegates observed a number of counter-IED exercises that demonstrated the applicable tactics and responses to the changing threat of IEDs. On the same occasion, Omenda emphasized Kenya’s readiness to supporting measures which facilitate interagency collaborations, information exchange, and joint actions.
The UK Defence Attaché to Kenya also made similar remarks saying, “Besides the initiatives of the African Union and the United Nations, the United Kingdom will always continue to offer technical support and financial resources that will be used for the delivery of training and that will also act as operational guidance for putting an end to the influence of IEDs, was Al-Shabaab, and other terror groups.”’
The Director of the International Peace Support Training Centre, Major General Charles Mwazighe, said that operations against the use of explosive devices have been very successful in saving human lives in mission areas. He appealed for more coordinated operations and realistic strategies for the protection of people.
The main benefit of the conference has been recognized as a key counter-IED coordination platform, operational tactics exchanges, and a forum for joint anti-terrorism measures across the continent.
