In a significant blow to terrorist activity in Africa, INTERPOL has successfully dismantled cells across 8 East African countries, capturing 37 suspected terrorists linked to major organizations such as ISIS and Al-Shabaab. The large-scale operation, which took place between November and December 2024, was a joint effort with AFRIPOL, aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals connected to terrorism while reinforcing border security measures.

The operation's success can be attributed to the active cooperation and support of the participating nations, which developed detailed operational plans, gathering intelligence on terror-related targets, including individuals and their known locations. INTERPOL and AFRIPOL then consolidated and analyzed this information, sharing it with all participating nations, facilitating a significant exchange of criminal intelligence and enhancing the effectiveness of the operation.

According to Cyril Gout, INTERPOL's Acting Executive Director of Police Services, "East Africa's complex landscape, marked by political instability, porous borders, and socioeconomic challenges, continues to provide an environment conducive to terrorist activity." The operation's results demonstrate the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime.

The affected countries included Kenya, where 17 individuals were arrested, including two suspected ISIS members and several foreign terrorist fighters. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), authorities apprehended four alleged members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) along with two others, and seized a missile and an anti-tank device. In Somalia, INTERPOL arrested three individuals, including a suspected bomb maker linked to an Al-Shabaab unit and an Al-Shabaab operative believed to have attacked multiple police checkpoints using hand grenades.

In Tanzania, an alleged member of ISIS Mozambique was taken into custody, along with a Ugandan national attempting to join a terrorist group in Mozambique as a foreign terrorist fighter. The operation was conducted under the ISPA programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, to support AFRIPOL in strengthening its role as Africa's lead institution in preventing and combating transnational organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime.

This significant operation demonstrates INTERPOL's commitment to dismantling terrorist cells and preventing terrorist activity in Africa. As the continent continues to grapple with the challenges of political instability, socioeconomic challenges, and porous borders, international cooperation and intelligence sharing will remain crucial in the fight against terrorism.

The success of this operation also highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, political instability, and social inequality. As Africa continues to navigate the complexities of terrorism and transnational organized crime, it is essential to adopt a holistic approach that addresses these underlying factors and promotes regional cooperation and stability.