Terror financing still a threat despite security gains

Despite progress in dismantling terrorist networks, terrorism financing continues to be a critical and persistent challenge.

According to Soipan Tuya, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, there is an urgent need for international collaboration and capacity building to combat the financial lifelines sustaining terrorism.

“While we have made significant progress in disrupting terrorist networks and degrading their capabilities, one area remains a persistent and strategic enabler for terrorism, and this is the financing mechanisms that sustain the terrorist groups,” Tuya said.

She spoke on Tuesday during the launch of the training programs initiative for curbing terrorism financing operations in Nairobi.

An event organised by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

Tuya said that the training is designed to equip multi-agency Kenyan teams with the skills to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit financial flows.

She noted that it is a strategic investment in Kenya’s institutional resilience, aimed at fostering a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to national and regional security.

“Terrorist financing fuels improvements, planning, logistics, and operations. Without addressing the financial lifelines that sustain these networks, our broader counterterrorism efforts risk being undermined,” she said.

The IMCTC, which brings together 42 member countries, seeks to coordinate global efforts to fight terrorism across four domains which includes; military, ideological, communications, and counter-financing.

Maj. Gen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, the Secretary General of IMCTC hailed Kenya’s active role in the coalition and stated that terrorism knows no borders, and that it targets security, stability, and development across the world.

“We believe that collaboration and solidarity among member states is the most ideal way of fighting terrorism effectively and efficiently. Funding is the lifeline of terrorist groups, and confronting it requires collaboration among member states and financial institutions,” he said.

Al-Moghedi said that the initiative is an extension of the coalition's strategic initiatives aimed at freezing the sources of funding for terrorist groups.

The establishment of IMCTC was founded on a clear vision to coordinate international efforts and unite ranks in strengthening ideological, media, financial, and military capabilities. The IMCTC's strategy enables the implementation of initiatives aimed at capacity building and the training of specialists to enhance the readiness of institutions involved in counterterrorism,” said Al-Moghedi.