Fight against violent extremism cannot be won by police alone

Slightly over a month ago, five chiefs were abducted in Mandera by suspected Al Shabaab militants while travelling for an official meeting to plan for President William Ruto’s tour of the region. Their whereabouts remains unknown.

Ten days ago, the insurgents yet again stormed a village in Lamu, preached to the residents, distributed date fruits before vanishing into the dense Boni Forest. Only days ago, suspected Al Shabaab militants killed at least six police reservists in an attack in Fafi, Garissa County.

Even as police continue to pursue the militants and urge locals to share any crucial information with them, the two incidents and many others are a grim reminder of the persistent threats of violent extremism in the Horn of Africa.

Groups such as Al Shabaab, Islamic State (IS) continue to wreak havoc, employing terror and violence to advance their political and ideological beliefs.

The extremist groups take advantage of vulnerable populations through attacks and recruitment of youths through social media.

Despite international support from players such as the United States and the European Union, countries like Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti continue to grapple with violent extremism's destabilising effects.

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For instance, terror attacks in Kenya have caused deaths, destruction of property and heightened insecurity affecting tourism and investments.

Somalia, on the other hand, has been under tight grip of groups such as Al Shabaab and IS and while military operations backed by international organisations are struggling to bring order, the militants use extensive propaganda and media networks to fuel hatred and violence, exacerbating poverty and underdevelopment.

These actions not only expose security vulnerabilities but also underscore the urgent need for trust and collaboration among key stakeholders—media, law enforcers and religious leaders.

Trust is a powerful tool. Yet too often, the police, religious leaders, civil society and the media operate in isolation from one another, weakening efforts to combat radicalisation.

Heavy handed policing, misinformation and disconnect between authorities and faith-based organisations create gaps that are filled all too easily by extremists.

To build resilience to violence, these three pillars of society must collaborate on building mutual trust, open dialogue, and shared action. Without it, fear and suspicion will continue to fuel the very extremism that they are attempting to eliminate.

The answer to violent extremism is not solely in fighting armed groups; it lies in restoring trust and collaboration between the important pillars of society.

In the absence of such relationship, it is difficult to pass critical information, implement joint action plans, or achieve cooperation to tackle the ever-increasing challenge.

In most countries, law enforcement officials often do not understand the social and cultural dynamics of the communities they serve, while the local communities feel isolated, fearful of reprisals, or simply ignored.

Law enforcers must be in sync with the people they are policing. If not, then the communities will always be wary of police work, and the police will be unable to get vital information from locals. This cycle of suspicion will only strengthen the grip of extremists, who take advantage of these differences to recruit and further their causes.

Additionally, professionalisation and modernisation of the police force is important. To counter extremism effectively, law enforcement officers need to have both practical tools and the necessary cultural and social awareness. Accountability and openness on the part of the law enforcers will also go a long way towards building trust.

Digital technology is essential for successful counter-extremism strategies. Although social media platforms have positive effects, others serve as tools for extremists to recruit followers and spread propaganda while avoiding detection. Authorities should create monitoring systems that dismantle online extremist networks and at the same time get the all-important information without violating fundamental rights and freedoms.

Beyond law enforcement, collaboration must extend to religious leaders alongside civil society organisations. Religious leaders must lead the fight against extremist ideologies while civil society organisations should boost the efforts by bridging the gap between governments and communities.

The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions. When reporting on extremist activities, it must, however, exercise caution and responsibility to prevent misinformation that could fuel tensions. As part of collaboration and countering narratives of violent extremists, the media must keep highlighting positive initiatives by groups involved in preventing and countering violent extremism.

Without trust, any counter-extremism effort is doomed to fail. This is not just a regional issue—it is a global one, and if we do not act now, we risk allowing violent extremism to continue to destabilise entire societies.