The terrorist threat continues to pose major challenges in Eastern Africa. The region is subject to increased violence and the movement of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) continue to be a major cause for concern. Al-Shabaab, which remains the most active Al-Qaida affiliate and represents the largest terrorist threat to Djibouti, has been multiplying cross-border incursions into countries neighbouring Somalia.
Djibouti’s location is a strategic one. It serves as a key transit point connecting the Horn of Africa with the Arabian Peninsula making it a vital partner in deterring this threat and contributing to regional stability. At the same time, its positioning means it could also support efforts to prevent the cross-border movement of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) through effective investigation and prosecution of terrorist-related offences.
Against this backdrop, UNODC joined a project facilitated by CTED since 2019, in collaboration with the University of New Haven, funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF), to strengthen counter-terrorism and forensic capacities of Djibouti’s law enforcement entities to hold perpetrators of terrorist acts accountable, while also upholding the rule of law and international legal obligations.
The purpose of the UNODC-CTED joint project was to provide legal support to Djibouti to draft regulations on the responsible collection, analysis, transfer, and protection of biometric data, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights, and to enhance capacities of the forensics laboratory of the Djiboutian National Police.
The project also aimed to sensitize law enforcement officers and other relevant actors to good practices in the field of biometrics and the use of INTERPOL’s databases, in line with UN Security Council resolutions 2322 (2016) and 2396 (2017), the UN Compendium of recommended practices for the responsible use and sharing of biometrics in counter-terrorism, as well as the 2018 Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles on FTFs.
This activity was followed by an awareness-raising workshop on the responsible use and sharing of biometric data to prevent and counter terrorism, on 4-5 March 2024, which brought together participants from various institutions, including the Ministry of Justice. Representatives from CTED, the University of New Haven and INTERPOL also contributed to the workshop.
The event was followed by a visit to the forensic science laboratory, managed by the Djiboutian National Police, and concluded with the closing ceremony of the project, which gathered UNODC, CTED and the University of New Haven.
UNODC is committed to continuing supporting Djibouti’s efforts in preventing and countering terrorism in Eastern Africa.
