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By Jean Claude Mutuyeyezu
The IGAD authority says that neighboring countries have to work hand in hand to fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the whole Africa and the IGAD member countries respectively.
From the experience of Mohamed Ibrahim Houmed, the deputy Director and head of capacity Building, IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism-ICEPCVE; the horn of Africa has for longtime experienced by the terrorist attacks and for him the remaining strategy is to build capacity for prevention: ‘’ in this region, the main attacks are from Somalia and everyday done by Al-Shabab group; as neighboring countries we have to be ready for what can be happen. Additionally we have to strengthen the technical financial capacity for our member states, our civil societies so that the issues should be prevented. ‘’
Recently Rwanda and Tanzania joined the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the deputy Director and head of capacity Building- ICEPCVE, Mohamed Ibrahim Houmed emphasizes on the impacts of joining the platform for those both countries: ‘’ you know Rwanda and Tanzania are neighboring countries; what can be happen in one country can also have an impact in on another country respectively. It‘s necessary to prevent any terrorism and extremism ideology. For your information you know that some Tanzanian youth joined Al-Shabab through Kenya, maybe tomorrow the Rwandan youth can join the group too; for instance you are aware what is happening in Cabo-Delgado, Mozambique… We also know that Rwanda is a peaceful country but it has the obligation of protecting the youth not to join any terrorism and extremism, avoid having countries like Somalia’’.
With 36 years living in different countries of the horn of Africa, Francois Kabare a Rwandan nationality has witnessed the terrorist and attacks which always go with violent extremism. Kabare explains that the negative impacts due to the terrorist attacks continue up to know in different sectors of life especially in socio-economic side. ‘’ work together as a region in prevention the attacks and extremism, should maintain the stability and security for all’’, Kabare added.
Francois Kabare emphasizes again that if Rwanda is joining the IGAD member states, it can help in the experience sharing especially in peace building and restoration as Rwanda plays the same role in Cabo Delgado (Mozambique), Central Africa Republic and without forgetting the UN peacekeeping mission in different places in the world and Africa in particularly.
Tanzanian journalist Chelu Matuzya salutes the decision of the Rwandan and Tanzanian Leaders to join IGAD platform: for her the has to play its role: ‘’we shouldn’t say that we are safe, we really need to know about these things, as journalists we have to prepare ho to report on these issues. Tanzania will have election in 2025, Rwanda in 2024. Being included in workshop prepares us to report on violence extremism issues.’’
Dr Simon Nyambura, the Director of IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism-ICEPCVE, urges everyone to play his/her respective role another to live in Africa without terrorism and violent extremism: ‘’ we are the alliance, we believe in collective action to continue challenging violent extremism and terrorist. We have worked together with our member states and we have supported us. When I look back I see the critical movement of network that we have able to establish: we are proud of the center having strong network of women, of youth, civil society, researchers and now we are going to build a strong network of media. ’’
IGAD has been established in 1986: before Rwanda and Tanzania joined the alliance, it was composed by 8 members countries such as Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
