Countering Violent Extremism in Somalia: Alternative Approaches

This study examines how Kenyan communities build resilience against violent extremism, highlighting the impact of heavy-handed security responses, the role of religious cohesion, and local capacity in countering radicalisation.}

On 19 August 2019, near the southern Somali port town of Kismayo, soldiers from the Kenyan and Ethiopian armies faced off warily against one another at point blank range down the barrels of their guns. The two countries have been strategic allies for over half a century, mainly to contain a perceived common threat from Somalia.}

Over the last two years, human traffickers and smugglers in East and North Africa have shifted their business models in response to efforts to contain migration flows to Europe, resulting in notable shifts in migration patterns. At the same time, the European Union (EU) has deepened its understanding of how human smugglers and traffickers use money laundering and other illegal financial means to advance their work.}