RUSI to Implement Project on Counter Violent Extremism for the European Union
The Royal United Services Institute has embarked on a major programme of work to develop best practices to counter violent extremism in the Horn of Africa.
The Royal United Services Institute has embarked on a major programme of work to develop best practices to counter violent extremism in the Horn of Africa.
The 2013 attack at the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi and the continuing tensions in the coastal region of Kenya  underline the continued threat of terrorism and violent extremism in  the country and the Horn of Africa.  The Westgate attack was the most serious act of terrorism in the country since Islamist extremists bombed the US Embassy in 1998, but it is by no means an isolated event in the region.
RUSI will implement four projects with the aim of strengthening resilience against extremism and violence in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.  The programme of work will include building the regional capacity of security sector & law enforcement authorities to engage with civil society in fighting violent extremism; strengthening the capacity of women’s organisations in the region to fight violent extremism; increasing the understanding of the challenges faced by EU born Somali youth in Somaliland, and identifying drivers of radicalisation among youth in Kenya.
The European Commission project, Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE), is funded under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) which enables the EU to help build long-term international, regional and national capacity to address pervasive trans-regional and global threats.
The Royal United Services Institute has an established record on counter-terrorism and counter-extremism research. The three year programme will be undertaken by experts in RUSI’s National Security and Resilience team based in Nairobi. Â