Violent extremism and terrorism remain among the most severe and persistent security challenges confronting states, communities, and institutions in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. Armed non-state actors, from Al-Shabaab in the Somali territories to affiliated networks operating across Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the wider Sahel corridor, continue to exploit governance vacuums, economic marginalisation, and social fractures. Addressing these threats requires more than military and security responses: it demands a rigorous analytical understanding of the structural drivers of radicalisation, the operational mechanics of recruitment, and the conditions under which community resilience can be effectively built and sustained.

The Prevention of Terrorism Program advancing research and policy engagement on violent extremism, terrorism and counterterrorism across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. The program analyses the evolving nature of violent extremism and terrorism in the region, examining radicalisation pathways, ideological frameworks, recruitment networks, and the interplay between local grievances and transnational jihadist movements. It situates these threats within the broader political, social, and economic context of fragile and conflict-affected states, recognising that sustainable security cannot be achieved through coercive measures alone.