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UNODC Supporting Transformation, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa

Addis, Ethiopia, 6 January 2022 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) within the framework of the Regional Programme for Eastern Africa (2016-2021) is implementing a project on Supporting Transformation, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa, funded by the Government of Japan.

Achievements in 2021 include increased understanding of threats on transnational organized crime (TOC), illicit trafficking and terrorism in the Horn of Africa; Currently UNODC is also conducting a regional prevalence study aimed at identifying trends, better understanding TOC networks and terrorist groups, and determining potential areas of confluence of TOC and terrorism in the region. This includes a desk review of published literature and studies and fieldwork on transnational threats in the Horn of Africa where after the research will be used to develop a set of scenarios (identifying threats based on desk review, focus group discussions, development of 3-4 scenarios, and development of recommendations to achieve ideal scenario). The countries include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

UNODC has also been supporting Member States in the Horn of Africa with improving human rights-based criminal justice processes to TOC and terrorism through building capacities and enhancing technology to effectively dismantle organized criminal and terrorist groups operating in the Horn of Africa.

As part of this project, UNODC delivered three 2-week inter-agency training workshops on "Effective Criminal Justice Responses within the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Counter Serious and Transnational Organized Crime”, in close cooperation with the Federal Police Commission and Federal Office of the Attorney General (FAGO) (now Ministry of Justice). The workshops included inter-agency scenario-based exercises to reinforce specialized criminal justice responses to serious and transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking.

Two training workshops on Strengthening Human Rights-based Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism – Implementing the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation 1176/2020” was also delivered by UNODC for justice practitioners in Ethiopia with the objective of strengthening knowledge and skills of the practitioners in applying counter-terrorism legislation in line with international legal requirements, including human rights obligations.

Furthermore, as identified during assessment done at the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) and FAGO (MOJ), UNODC procured specialized equipment for Ethiopia Federal Police Commission and FAGO (MOJ- TOC unit within MOJ), including IT and x-ray equipment, and furniture that will support combatting TOC and terrorism crimes.

To support programme activities, UNODC translated a number of resource materials from English into Amharic, such as Manual on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters related to Terrorism; Handbook on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Countering Terrorism; Human rights and Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism; and Practical Guide for requesting Electronic Evidence across borders.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Johan Kruger (johan.kruger@un.org)

Head of Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Programmes

UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa