19 June 2019, (Entebbe Uganda):  IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP), with support from the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) under the IPPSHAR program, today opened a four days advanced regional training on “Criminal Intelligence Analysis” for all IGAD Member States.

Criminal intelligence is an essential instrument in preventing and countering transnational security threats like organized crime. It is the basis for proactive policing and investigation.  The concept of intelligence led or problem-solving policing and crime control are entirely dependent on criminal intelligence capabilities.  Capability in criminal intelligence analysis and methodology is necessary in our globalized and ever networking world to prevent and fight all serious and organized crime in particular, and transnational security threats in general.  One of IGAD SSP’s key initiatives is to bridge the gaps to address these threats prioritized by IGAD Member States.  The law enforcement capacity building component comprises of enhancing overall understanding and expertise skills of collecting, evaluating, analyzing, using and disseminating/sharing criminal intelligence information on the issues/problems that cause crimes, criminals and their networks among others.  The IGAD wide training needs assessment of law enforcement agencies revealed that criminal intelligence analysis capability is a critical gap and considered by the majority of member states to take higher priority in regional training session.  It is in line with this and in continuation of previous similar interventions that this advanced training has been organized.

The training was officially opened by Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP). Commander Abebe welcomed all the participants to the Pearl of Africa and expressed his appreciation to the Government of Uganda for hosting this important training.  In his welcoming remark, he highlighted on the need to differentiate between information, data, and intelligence.  He said that “Intelligence is data, information and knowledge that have been evaluated, analyzed, and presented in a decision-making format for action-oriented purposes….. Intelligence collection system produce data, not intelligence; only the human mind can provide that special touch that makes sense of data for different customer’s requirement.  Intelligence is more than information; it is knowledge that has been specially prepared for user’s unique circumstances.”  He further said that “criminal intelligence analysis is the identification and provision on insight into the relationship between crime data and other potentially relevant data with a view to law enforcement of judicial system practices”.



The overall objective of the training is to equip trainees with an advanced knowledge of criminal intelligence concepts, processes; and skills of implementing and applying analytical tools and techniques to strengthen the capacity of Member States’ law enforcement agencies to enable them effectively collect, collate, evaluate, analyze, use and disseminate criminal intelligence information.  In addition, it aims to strengthen regional law enforcement cooperation and networking among the relevant officials.  At the end of the training program, trainees are expected to

• Describe and discuss the definitions, processes and cycles of criminal intelligence;
• Apply the tools and techniques of criminal intelligence analysis, research tools and information sharing protocols;
• Understand and describe how intelligence can be used to mitigate risk; and
• Explore various case studies stated in the content of the training

About 35 representatives from all IGAD Member States drawn from relevant institutions such as the Police, Judiciary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Financial Intelligence Units and National Counter Terrorism Centers are participating in this training.  An expert from IGAD SSP and Mr. David Scott, a Scotland expert with over 23 year of experience on criminal intelligence analysis are expected to share their experiences and facilitate the training through interactive course materials, discussions, case studies, and group work exercises to bring about the required result of the training. 

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13 June 2019, (Bishoftu, Ethiopia):  IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP), with support from the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) under the IPPSHAR program, conducted a three days training on “Implementing Human Rights Standards in Preventing, Investigating, and Prosecuting Terrorism Cases” for all IGAD Member States on 10-12 June 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

The IGAD region is a source, transit, and final destination of wide range of Transnational Security Threats (TSTs).  One of these threats is terrorism, which threaten all IGAD Member States. Faced with these threats and its consequences, States have a duty to protect individuals under their jurisdiction.  They are under the obligation to prevent terrorist acts and bring those responsible for them to justice.  In doing so, however, they must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as identified in the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy under Pillar IV.  Indeed respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are an essential element of any counter terrorism strategies. It is with this background in mind that this training was organized and undertaken.  The training made an in-depth discussion on the link between human rights and prevention, investigation, and prosecution while handling terrorism cases.  In addition, it explored and shared good practices among the Member States with their experiences and the roles they play on prevention, investigation, and prosecution of terrorism in line with international human rights standards.

The training was officially opened by Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP). Commander Abebe welcomed all the participants and expressed his appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for hosting.  In his welcoming remark, he highlighted on the threat that terrorism poses on peace, human security, social and economic development, among others.  He further stressed the importance of human rights and the available international consensus through the United Nations Security Council Resolutions in relation to upholding human rights standards.  He reiterated the recent call of the Council underscoring that “effective Counter Terrorism measures and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing, and constitute an essential part of successful Counter Terrorism efforts”.

The overall objective of the training was to strengthen Member States’ capacity to effectively utilize and implement the international human rights standards in handling terrorism cases of prevention, investigation, and prosecution.  Specifically, the training aimed to contribute to:

• familiarize practioners with fundamental human rights standards they are obliged to adhere to
• explore the challenges that Member States face in balancing Counter Terrorism measures and respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms
• make an in-depth analysis of international frameworks and compare it with the national and regional legal regimes
• identify how acts of terrorism can be countered in ways that uphold human rights standards
• explore how the international human rights framework is applicable in dealing with the terrorist threat, from addressing its causes, to dealing with its perpetrators, to protecting its victims, to limiting its consequences

About 35 representatives from all IGAD Member States drawn from relevant institutions such as the Police, Judiciary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Human Rights Commission and National Counter Terrorism Centers participated in this training.  Regional experts, namely; Dr. Dereje Zeleke, Assistant Professor at the Addis Ababa University, and Dr. Florence J. Simbiri, Professor at the University of Nairobi shared their experiences and facilitated the training through interactive discussions, case studies, and group work exercises that were believed to achieve the required result of the training. 

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29 May 2019 (Addis Ababa) Ethiopia: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Peace and Security Division in collaboration with the IGAD Gender Unit kick-started a validation workshop on Developing and Implementing National Action Plans on United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 this morning at Best Western Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The objective of the two-day workshop is to present the results of the study on the implementation of the UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 which are focused on women, peace and security to increase the visibility of gender in situations of armed conflict for the Member States’ inputs to be considered in the report.

The participants of this workshop are from institutions within IGAD Member States that have direct connection to the implementation of National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 as identified by the member states.

This workshop is conducted through the financial support of the IPPSHAR programme of the European Union.

The workshop is expected to be concluded on May 2019.

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27 May 2019 (Kampala) Uganda: The IGAD’s Mediation Support Unit (MSU) in its efforts to enhance the role and participation of women in the IGAD region and particularly from the Republic of South Sudan has organized a 3-day Training of Trainers workshop on Conflict Prevention and Mediation Processes in Kampala, Uganda.

 The Director of the Mediation Support Unit, Dr. Aleu Garang in his opening remarks gave an overview of the assessments that were undertaken in the Republic of South Sudan, Somalia and the Sudan in order to enhance the existing capacities and role of women in Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution (CPMR) under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and the resolutions thereafter to their inclusion in peace processes.

 Dr. Garang emphasized that the ToT is to enhance capacities of women in conflict prevention and mediation in order to increase their representation and participation on peace and security agenda linking to protection and participation concerns.

 “The training is to create a network of trained women in peace building and mediation as a way through which key women from different fields represented can reach other women at all levels including at the community level hence strengthening the multiplier effect” Dr. Garang went on to mention.

 Some of the topics to be covered during the training are; Understanding of Conflict in the Region and South Sudan; Conflict Analysis and Its Relevance in Dialogue, Negotiation and Mediation Processes; Conflict Response Spectrum; Approaches to Conflict, Conflict Resolution; Effective Negotiation and Mediation Strategies and Challenges to mention but a few.

 The MSU in partnership with the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) will also conduct trainings for women from Republic of Sudan and Federal Government of Somalia in order to address the gaps, findings and recommendations identified in the joint assessments.

 Background

 Some IGAD Member States in the Greater Horn of Africa such as Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda have welcomed, developed and adopted National Action Plans for (NAPs) the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 and related decisions on empowering women's role and participation in peace processes.

 IGAD has continued to engage in initiatives for women to be included in discussions and sensitize women to promote their participation in peace processes, especially in the implementation of the resolutions and other peace-building frameworks to attain reduced risks, vulnerability and impacts on women in conflict even though addressing issues of women has continued to face significant barriers such as lack of funding and coordination mechanisms.

 The workshop is financially supported under the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) facilitated through the IPPSHAR Programme and technically supported by ACCORD.

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24 May 2019 (Nairobi), Kenya: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Committee of Ambassadors (COA) this morning reviewed and later endorsed the final provisions of the Protocol to the Agreement establishing IGAD on Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Protocol to the Agreement establishing IGAD on Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation will serve as a main guide for member states to effectively, efficiently and transparently design interventions, deploy envoys or mediators and largely engage in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the region.

It is recalled that the Protocol was developed through a consultancy intervention which was provided for under the consideration of legal experts from the Member States.

A number of consultations with legal and technical experts from key institutions of the Member States preceded the endorsement of Protocol. A final review and discussion by the technical legal experts was held from May 22-23, 2019 where extensive views, suggestions and recommendations were incorporated leading to the endorsement by the Committee.

Consultations were used as mechanism for interface between legal experts, foreign affairs representation and now Committee of Ambassadors for member state ownership.

In the same meeting, the committee released resolutions on the bi-annual report of the Mediation Support Unit among them approving the IGAD Mediation Support Unit to establish mechanisms to strengthen and enhance mediation capacity of the IGAD member states and appreciated the valuable support of the IGAD Partners for providing continued support towards promoting peace, security and stability in the IGAD Region. 

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Attachments:

Resolution of IGAD committee.PDF

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2019-05-27 09:07