Finland’s conviction of Simon Ekpa: A landmark in global anti-terror cooperation
A significant breakthrough in the international community response to transnational terrorism was the conviction of Nigerian-Biafran separatist leader Simon Ekpa by Finland in September 2025. The court of the Paijat-Hame District gave Ekpa a six-year prison sentence over his contribution to planning violent strikes and financing armed separatists in southeast Nigeria. The prosecutions included terrorism […]
Beyond counter-terror raids: Building community resilience in post-ISIS Syria
Syria is in a weak, yet changing situation in 2025, after the Assad regime collapsed in late 2024. Despite the fact that the military campaign against ISIS has provided quantifiable benefits most prominently an 80 percent increase in attacks and a 97 percent decrease in fatalities, there is a rising agreement that tactical triumph is […]
Are CTED round-table events in West Africa driving genuine change?
The West African region is still on the center stage as the world worries about the emergence of violent extremism and terrorism. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, nearly one out of every five terrorist attacks in the world in 2025 is expected to occur in the Sahel, and over 50% of the number […]
Zimbabwe’s gold smuggling crisis: Lost billions and the fight for fiscal sovereignty
Zimbabwe is struggling with a gold smuggling crisis that is still undermining its economy and the revenue base. The International Crisis Group has estimated that as a result of gold smuggling, the country is losing an estimated of 1.5 billion dollars every year, which is up to 40 percent of the potential war revenues of […]
Nigeria’s Leadership in ECOWAS: Challenges for a Unified Counterterrorism Strategy
Nigeria is playing a leading role in the collective security initiatives in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In reaction to the growing extremist threats, it is spearheading operationalization of a regional counterterrorism force that will stabilize a region overwhelmed by violence and political instability. By the beginning of 2025, the ECOWAS standby […]
SCO’s Anti-Terror Gains: Are Joint Operations Changing Regional Security?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) expanded its regional security role across Eurasia in 2025. Its focus on terrorism, separatism, and extremism framed as the “three evils” has fostered unprecedented coordination among members. Central to this effort is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), serving as the SCO’s operational hub. During the 25th Heads of State Council […]
Empowering local voices: How border communities can lead the fight against terrorism?
In 2025, terrorism remains a complex and evolving threat. While national security forces lead defense, empowering border communities has become increasingly vital. These peripheral areas are geographically vulnerable yet socially resilient. Their proximity to unregulated borders heightens exposure to smuggling routes, armed militants, and extremist recruitment, making them both a frontline risk zone and a […]
Fragmented authorities, common enemy: Kenya and Somalia’s counterterrorism imperative
In 2025, security challenges are re-surfacing in the Horn of Africa, and this challenge in relation to countering terrorism requires regional counter-terrorism measures. In cases of Kenya and Somalia, the reemergence of al-Shabaab and the increased scope of operations of ISIS-Somalia has continued to challenge domestic stability. The July 2025 offensive by Al-Shabaab, the recapture […]
From witness to target: How Sri Lanka’s counter-terror police intimidate Tamil journalists
Tamil photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan was called to Sri Lanka‘s counter-terror police. The formal rationale was to do with his reporting and social media of mass grave excavations in the North. Beyond the procedural rhetoric, the action reflects a dramatic increase in the heat on Tamil reporters by police and other law enforcement bodies that are […]
How Nigerian security agencies and communities can collaborate to combat terrorism?
Nigeria is ranked among the countries with the highest level of terrorism and violent extremism as they occur, being rated at number eight with reference to the latest Global Terrorism Index statistics. Continued insecurity caused by organizations such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and new separatist groups have ensured that security […]