Interview: Lack of counter-terrorism strategies hinders fight against Al-Shabaab in E.Africa: expert

The fight against the Al-Shabaab which has ignited an insurgency along Kenya's porous border with Somalia has been hampered by the lack of a comprehensive regional counter-terrorism strategy, according to security expert Andrew Franklin.

Franklin, a security management specialist, warned the failure by the other East African countries to develop a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy could disrupt trade and economic activity.

"The major challenge facing the East African countries in eradicating terrorism revolves around the specific circumstances of each East African nation's capabilities to militate against the development of any comprehensive regional anti-terrorism strategy, " Franklin told Xinhua in an interview.

Kenya embarked on the development of a major regional infrastructure project, known as the Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) in 2012.

The project comprises a series of regional highways, oil pipeline and an oil refinery to ease infrastructure shortage within the East Africa.

Franklin expressed fears that the ongoing security threats against Kenya could have profound impacts on the economies of other East African countries, notably, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.

"Any disruptions to Kenya's already inefficient infrastructure will paralyze the surrounding countries until the situation is resolved," Franklin said.

"Kenya's failure to adequately address issues of insurgency and concomitant terrorism in the north-eastern and coastal counties will significantly delay the rollout of the major infrastructure projects like LAPSSET which will not find funding until insecurity is checked," he added.

Kenya's coastal region emerged as a hot favorite for Al-Shabaab recruitment agents for its war inside Somalia, because of the presence of radicalized youth, infuriated by the government's plan of eliminating radical preachers from mosques in the region and the arrest of hundreds of young militant returnees.

Franklin said surveys indicated the Kenyan youth alienated from the national conversation were most at risk of joining the Al Shabaab.

"This transformation of the youth into radicalized elements was mostly triggered by the heavy-handed government repression and arbitrary and discriminatory treatment by state officials," Franklin said.

The Somali militants mostly capitalized on the local discontent with the government to recruit members who are further radicalized.

Government officials say strategies to improve security in counties most affected by the Al-Shabaab threat have focused on the creation of a single command center for police.

The government is also banking on the use of new technologies to enhance visa and immigration procedures.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta identified the terrorism threat from the Al-Shabaab as one of Kenya's greatest security threat during a state of the nation address to parliament in March.

Kenyatta called for closer working relationship and synergy within the security organs.

He said this was critical to the victory in the war against extremist attacks.

"Kenya's international standing depends on its ability to prevent threats. I expect our security agencies to act in securing this country," Kenyatta said.

The president said the threat of violent extremism from the youth returning from Somalia after receiving military training and the ethnic and violent communal violence were major security threats.

Franklin said the U.S. which has faced numerous threats since Sept. 11, has deployed the use of "Special Forces" on short-term assignments to target and eliminates security threats to its homeland security.

"The use of local proxies and the employment of Special Forces on short-term missions mainly through drone attacks and air strikes seem effective in curbing and preventing terror attacks in the U.S. although Americans and other foreigners in East Africa seem no more secure than was the case 20 years ago."

Franklin said a robust AMISOM mandate could provide a new impetus in the war against extremism in the Horn of Africa.

Somalia could also benefit from an enhanced Coast Guard under the command of the European Union. Endi