Project Launch: Supporting Eastern Africa in countering terrorist use of improvised explosive devices
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will launch the project: “Supporting Eastern Africa in countering terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)”, on 11 September 2025.
By improving the application of legislative frameworks and building capacities of national authorities to prevent and respond to terrorist activities involving IEDs, the three-year project aims to enhance the security of Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project is implemented by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) in UNOCT with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) as a technical partner and in collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
The launch event will contribute to raise awareness on the threat and risks of terrorist use of IEDs in Eastern Africa as well as the joint efforts to counter them.
Background
From 2020 to 2024, the use of IEDs by non-state actors in Africa has been increasing by 12% annually. IEDs have become the weapon of choice for many terrorist groups. The number of incidents in the first half of 2025 alone demonstrates that the trend will remain the same this year. East Africa is one of the regions with the largest number of such incidents and it has seen a continuous evolution in the way terrorists obtain, produce, and deploy IEDs.
In its 8th review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) (A/RES/77/298), the General Assembly urged Member States to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons and expressed concern that IEDs, including explosive precursors, continue to be used extensively in terrorist activities.
Useful resources
