The Centre for the Study of Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization at HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies focuses on advancing strategic thinking on terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalization across the Horn of Africa. It conducts multidisciplinary analysis of radicalization drivers and counter-terrorism strategies, contributing to strengthened Prevention and Counter Violent Extremism efforts through high-quality research and policy-relevant recommendations. Its outputs include bulletins, policy briefs, and books, alongside workshops, seminars, conferences, roundtable discussions, and consultative forums, supported by a community of in-house scholars and practitioners specialising in this field.

The persistence of Al-Shabaab across Somalia, Kenya, and the wider East African region — despite sustained military pressure from AMISOM/AUSSOM and national security forces — underscores the insufficiency of kinetic approaches alone. The Centre engages this challenge through both research and direct programmatic action, recognising that durable solutions require understanding the social, political, and ideological conditions that sustain extremist movements. The Horn Institute’s Prevention of Terrorism Program and the INFORM Initiative are practical expressions of this commitment, delivering strategic communications, counter-narrative design, and community-level prevention interventions tailored to the Horn of Africa’s unique socio-cultural and political landscape.