In an effort to stem the tide of attacks by Islamic extremists across
East Africa, the European Union will offer counter-terrorism training to help security
agencies improve cross-border investigations and prosecutions.
Fearful that militants trained in Africa may strike inside western nations, EU countries
will train and equip security agencies across East Africa as a safeguard
against the spread of radical Islam, especially from warn-torn Somalia.
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| Somalia based Al Shabaab fighters (seen above) |
The new programme will be implemented later this year, or early 2016
across Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and
Yemen, and will cost 11 million euros ($12 million) over five years.
Uwe Wissenbach, the EU's head of political section in Kenya, said the
programme would focus on training local law enforcement agencies and
judiciaries in how to carry out cross-border investigations and construct
criminal prosecutions.
More than 400 people have been killed on Kenyan soil in Al Shabaab
attacks over the past two years.