March 5, 2022 (Mombasa, Kenya): The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) has successfully concluded a three-days national workshop on Integrated Border Security and Management for the Republic of Kenya, from 3-5 March 2022, in Mombasa, Kenya. The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of government officials in border security and management and promote inter-agency, intra-agency and regional as well as international coordination and cooperation; hence, to effectively prevent and interdict the entry or transit of suspected terrorists, foreign terrorist fighters and such other transnational criminals, while promoting the licit movement of people and goods across borders.
The workshop was provided for twenty-six senior officials, of which six were women, represented by the National Intelligence, National Police Service, Border Management Secretariat, Kenya Airports Authority, Immigration, Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Anti-counterfeit Authority, Ministry of Health, Kenya Bureau of Standards, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The workshop was conducted in collaboration with United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) – CT-Travel Program, and UNCCT’s Border Security and Management (BSM) Unit. The topics covered during the workshop include the following:
- Concepts on border management and border security management (BSM) in African context
- Transnational security threats and BSM in the context of the IGAD region
- Good Practices on Border Security and Management
- The Use of Technologies (Biometrics, et al) in Preventing and Countering Terrorism
- Border Management – The Kenyan Experience
- Countering Terrorist Threats to Civil Aviation
- Maritime border security and data exploitation
- Human Rights and Screening Procedures at International Borders: detecting terrorist movement through a comprehensive rights-based approach
Welcoming and closing remarks were delivered by Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of IGAD Security Sector Program, in addition to Opening and Closing Statements delivered by representatives of the government of Kenya.
One of the objectives of the IGAD Security Sector Program to enhance institutional and human capacities of Member States to effectively address emerging, evolving, and existing transnational security threats (EEE-TSTs) in order to contribute to regional peace and stability, and foster enabling environment for regional integration and development of the IGAD region.
The training workshop was conducted with the financial support of the Republic of Korea.
