An IGAD training workshop on Election Observation organized by the Political Affairs Program under the Peace and Security Division kicked off on 24 November 2014 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

The training workshop scheduled to be conducted from 24-26 November 2014, is organized for participants from the electoral bodies of the Republic of Sudan and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; IGAD Member States that are to conduct elections in April and May 2015 respectively.

The objective of the workshop is to contribute towards strengthening the institutional capacity of the electoral bodies of the two Member States to discharge the heavy responsibilities they are entrusted with i.e. organizing and conducting national elections of their respective countries.

An IGAD training workshop on Democracy and Governance organized by the Political Affairs Program under the Peace and Security Division in collaboration with the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission kicked off on 13 November 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The training workshop was organized for Parliamentarians of IGAD member States. As IGAD is gender sensitive organization, separate invitation was extended to the Gender Affairs Committees in the respective National Parliaments to ensure their participation.

The workshop was officially opened by Hon. Jakoyo Midiwo Representative of National Parliament of the Republic of Kenya. Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, IGAD Executive Secretary, and by the representative of the AFRICAN Union Commission, Mr. Mbari Calixte Aristide.

Entebbe, 31 October 2014 – IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP) held a three days validation workshop of the Task Force Report on the Establishment of a Regional Centre for Cooperation and Coordination on Existing, Evolving and Emerging Transnational Security held on 28-30 October 2014 in Entebbe, Uganda. Commander Abebe Muluneh, the Head of ISSP, officially opened the meeting.  Dr. Simon Nyambura, the Counter Terrorism Pillar Head at ISSP chaired the meeting with the facilitation of ISSP Pillar Heads and the IGAD Secretariat Legal Counsel.

The ISSP Task Force was officially commissioned at a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29 April 2014 and commenced its programme of work on 16 May 2014.  The Task Force mandate was to explore the viability of establishment of a regional center to promote greater regional cooperation in countering transnational security threats (TSTs). Following extensive and various consultations with delegations from IGAD member states, and other key stakeholders at national, regional and international levels, the Task Force submitted its Report to ISSP, which the latter presented it for validation by the respective Member States.

Entebbe, 25 October 2014 – IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP) held a three days regional conference on community engagement in crime prevention and control from 22-24 October 2014 in Entebbe, Uganda.  The conference was officially opened by Commander Tuemay Aregawi, the Head of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Pillar at ISSP.

The overall objective of the conference was to facilitate understanding of community engagement in crime prevention and control in general and in the IGAD region in particular.

The level of participation was excellent with a total of twenty two (22) participants representing IGAD Member States. Officials from Institutions such as the Parliament, law enforcement agencies, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Office of Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, SNCTC, and External Service Organization were in attendance.  International Expert from the UK gave presentations and shared experience to enrich the overall objective of the conference.

Nairobi, 17 October 2014 – IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP) held a four days advanced regional training on “The Concepts and Investigation Techniques of Cybercrim” from 14-17 October 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya.  The training is the first of its kind in the IGAD Region that grabbed the attention of high level officials.  It was a unique activity that also show-cased the regional experts, specifically from Sudan, on Cybercrime and IT.  The training was officially opened by Commander Abebe Muluneh, the Head of ISSP.  It was chaired by Commander Tuemay Aregawi, the Head of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Pillar at ISSP.

“ISSP has never dared to touch on the topic of Cybercrime”, said Commander Abebe on his opening remark.  The need to conduct this advanced training became eminent as Cybercrime is a global security challenge of our time connected with the ever growing cyber technology, connectivity, expanding access to sophisticated technology and tools which perpetrators can exploit to undermine cyber-security even the most protected national security platforms. The overall objective of the training was to equip delegates with the overall knowledge of the concept, meaning, typologies and threats of cybercrime; and technical skills on how to detect and investigate cybercrime. The training also aimed to contribute to the strengthening of member states' law enforcement capacity to counter cybercrime.