security are more complex , broad and interconnected , hence the involvement of other identifiable non-core security agencies and local communities is of paramount importance . Perpetrators of terrorist acts in Somalia , Kenya , Mali and Nigeria , for instance , have been identified in local communities . In this regard , Nigeria introduced a community initiative known as the Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF ), which emerged first as a community effort , and later as a joint effort with the security forces to help detect and combat Boko Haram . 15 Such an intelligence group may be located within communities , facilitating its ability to detect suspicious activities by groups planning to carry out terrorist attacks . The Civilian JTF members in Nigeria have successfully prevented many attacks through community surveillance and have assisted the security agencies to arrest Boko Haram members . 16 This example of civilian and police interaction in Nigeria could be replicated in various countries within Africa as an anti-terrorism measure . Such a construct with proper coordination and structures could serve as an early warning system against terrorism .
The population should be trained to identify and report anything out of place or out of the ordinary , such as new people in the neighborhood who avoid security agencies , or changes in behavior of people you have known for some time . As terrorism continues to emerge as a security threat , Africa will continue to serve as a critical target . Through patience and vigilance , terrorists continue to further their cause through the cultural understanding of society and known population grievances . It is therefore important to continue to learn about those who choose to attack the peoples ’ freedom and way of life . Security agencies will have to take the lead in this organized war against terrorism in Africa . Security agencies must develop transparent communication and intelligence links . Intelligence collection will prove invaluable in these efforts .
Training
Individual countries , the AU , Regional Economic Communities ( RECs ) should invest in training at two levels . The first level of training would focus on continuous security force training to remain current on the constantly evolving nature of terrorist groups in Africa . It should be noted that the military in many African countries does not have the requisite modern training to confront the evolving threat of terrorists in Africa . In other words , the changing dynamics of terrorists continue to defy and resist conventional , unilateral approaches , counter-measures and classical tactics of warfare . This is manifested in Nigeria , where Boko Haram , on many occasions , has been able to outwit the Nigerian security forces , and put into question the capability of the MNJTF . 17 The security forces in Africa have not been adequately equipped to confront the asymmetric nature of tactic adopted by modern terrorist groups . Intelligence agencies in various states continue to adopt obsolete methods of intelligence collection and analysis , and are easily outwitted by modern-day terrorist groups . Apart from the intelligence agencies , other security institutions in Africa continue to adopt conventional measures as tactic for anti-terrorism activities , which are always outpaced by emerging terrorist groups using asymmetric tactics .
The second training area concerns the AU and member-states , which should focus attention on training the youth , especially Muslim youth on the misconceptions of ' jihad ', which has become a springboard for engaging in radicalization and militancy across many countries in the region . It has been argued that the concept of ‘ Jihad ’ has largely been misunderstood , misinterpreted by some Muslims and non-Muslims alike , and as a consequence " hijacked " and misapplied by extremists and terrorists to achieve ideological and political goals . 18 Efforts at disabusing the minds of the youth about misconceptions should be comprehensive , including impartial religious , moral , secular , as well as peace education . 19
To prevent terrorist attacks in Africa , it is important that the strategies of the security agencies are reformed to conform to current emerging threats facing the continent . Training for intelligence agencies for instance will need to be re-focused towards emerging security threats confronting the continent . The recruitment and deployment of intelligence operatives should be re-designed to meet modern challenges of intelligence gathering . Intelligence as a key element of anti-terrorist efforts could then contribute significantly to the prevention of terrorism in Africa . The fight against terrorism will fail without the refocusing of intelligence agencies from regional protection to a more progressive and human-centered approach . Equally important , regular security agencies comprised of the Armed Forces , the Police , Gendarmeries and others would need to be re-equipped and retrained to confront well-motivated and welltrained terrorists . In addition , most of the forces in Africa are still adopting conventional warfare tactics while the terrorist are using asymmetric strategies , causing a mismatch of outmoded strategies and training methods . The newly created division in Nigeria was largely unsuccessful in preventing Boko Haram activities due to the type of equipment and tactics deployed in the northeast at the onset of the fight against BH . Africa nations need appropriate equipment and modern strategies in order to combat terrorist tactics .
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