JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL EU Counter-terrorism Action Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen
Date: 2012-08-31
Institutions: European Commission, High Representative of the Union
Subjects: Horn of Africa, Yemen, action programme, establishment of peace, foreign policy, international cooperation, police cooperation, terrorism

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION FOR 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND 
SECURITY POLICY

Brussels, 31.8.2012  
JOIN(2012) 24 final 

JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL 

EU Counter-terrorism Action Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen 

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JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL 

EU Counter-terrorism Action Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen 

Introduction 

1.1 

1.2 

1.3 

1.4 

1.5 

The Commission and the High Representative hereby propose a Counter  Terrorism 
Action Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, implementing the counter-terrorism 
strand of the EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa1. 

This  Strategic  Framework  for  the  Horn  of  Africa  focused  on  five  key  areas:  (1) 
building  robust  and  accountable  political  structures;  (2)  contributing  to  conflict 
resolution and prevention; (3) mitigating security threats emanating from the region; 
(4) promoting economic growth; and (5) supporting regional economic cooperation. 
This recognises the EU’s long-term commitment to the countries and peoples of the 
Horn of Africa region. This Action Plan will implement the counterterrorism strand 
of this Framework, taking advantage of the current window of opportunity to seek to 
identify  counterterrorism  efforts  that  can  contribute  to  achieving  tangible  progress 
towards  several  of  these  goals,  while  emphasizing  the  crucial  nexus  between 
development and security and the critical connection between the Horn of Africa and 
Yemen. 

In  order  to  bring  coherence  between  EU  internal  and  external  security,  this  Action 
Plan  builds  also  upon  existing  EU  policies  in  the  field  of  Freedom,  Security  and 
Justice,  in  full  compliance  with  the  European  Security  Strategy2  and  the  European 
Union  Internal  Security  Strategy3,  while  fully  taking  into  account  EU  and  Member 
States ongoing activities and actions. 

This  Action  Plan  also  recognises  the  importance  of  the  overarching  relationship 
between  the  EU  and  the  African  Union,  the  EU’s  support  for  the  African  Union’s 
continent-wide  activities  in  counter-terrorism  and  the  specific  support  given  by  the 
EU  to  AU  led  actions  to  restore  security  to  the  Horn  of  Africa,  in  particular  the 
African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). 

The  aim  is  to  promote  local  ownership  and  security  by  linking  counterterrorism 
efforts to regional development, while strengthening social and political institutions 
in  partnership  with  national  governments  in  the  Horn  and  in  Yemen  and  regional 
institutions, as well as in coordination with other international actors such as the UN 
(implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy) Other bodies already 
providing  counterterrorism  support  to  the  region  include  the  Inter-Governmental 
Authority  on  Development  (IGAD),  East  African  Community  (EAC),  Common 
Market  for  Eastern  and  Southern  Africa  (COMESA),  East  African  Police  Chiefs 
Organisation  (EAPCO),  Financial  Action  Task  Force  (FATF)  and  various  UN 

1 
2 
3 

Council conclusions on the Horn of Africa and its Strategic Framework, 14 November 2011 
A Secure Europe in Better World, European Security Strategy, Brussels, 12 December 2003 
Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council;  the  EU  Internal 
Security Strategy in Action: five steps towards a more secure Europe, 22 November 2010, COM(2010) 
673 final 

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entities  and  bodies,  including  Interpol.  The  Global  Counter-Terrorism  Forum 
(GCTF)  also  contributes  to  counter-terrorism  efforts  in  the  Horn  of  Africa  region. 
The  EU  can  build  upon  the  momentum  these  efforts  are  generating.  The  EU’s  co-
chairmanship of the GCTF Horn of Africa Working Group together with Turkey, an 
active “non-traditional” donor to the region is particularly important in this respect. 

1.6 

Responsibility  for  carrying  out  the  actions  listed  resides  with  the  EU  within  its 
respective fields of competence, as defined by the Treaties, and with Member States. 
In order to ensure the complementarity and efficiency of their actions, the EU and the 
Member  States  will  coordinate,  as  appropriate,  their  actions  in  Brussels  and  on  the 
ground.  The  EU  Special  Representatives  for  the  Horn  of  Africa  and  for  Sudan  and 
South  Sudan  will  contribute  to  implementation  of  this  Action  Plan,  in  accordance 
with their respective mandates. 

1.7 

This Action Plan should be adjusted periodically and be sufficiently flexible so as to 
respond to new challenges as they arise. 

Objectives 

2.1 

The Action Plan seeks to achieve the following:  

strengthen  respect  for  the  rule  of  law  and  human  rights  in  counterterrorism 
efforts both within national and regional strategies and institutions; 

increase law enforcement cooperation; 

support  capacity  building  measures  to  address  conditions  conducive  to  the 
spread of terrorism and foster societal resilience against incitement, recruitment 
and violent radicalisation; 

raise  awareness  of  the  need,  and  strengthen  the  institutional  capacities  in 
relation to , anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing.  

• 

• 

• 

• 

Principles 

3.1 

Underlying values: The EU pursues a global civilian counter-terrorism approach in 
addressing terrorism on the basis of criminal justice, rule of law and the protection of 
fundamental  rights,  as  notably  set  out  in  the  Charter  of  Fundamental  Rights  of  the 
European  Union4.  The  EU  condemns  terrorism  unreservedly  in  all  its  forms  and 
manifestations. Measures taken to counter terrorism must be in full compliance with 
international  law,  in  particular  human  rights  law,  refugee  law,  and  international 
humanitarian  law.  This  Action  Plan  should  be  seen  in  the  context  of  these  EU 
fundamental  values,  and  must  encourage  the  development  of  practical  operational 
networks between relevant stakeholders to support long-term institutional changes in 
the countries of the Horn of Africa and Yemen that align with international human 
rights  standards  and  obligations.  It  should  also  support  accountability  and 
transparency  in  governance  and  institutions,  supporting  the  separation  of  political 
institutions  from  law  enforcement,  and  fostering  visibility,  transparency  and 

4 

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, done at Strasbourg on 12 December 2007 : 
OJ C 303 p.1 of 14.12.2007. 

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3.2 

3.3 

accountability,  including  by  promoting  community  engagement  with  state  law 
enforcement institutions. 

Comprehensive  approach  and  long-term  commitment:  The  EU  is  committed  to 
pursue  a  comprehensive  long-term  engagement  with  the  Horn  of  Africa  region  on 
counter-terrorism/security,  uniting  EU  and  Member  States’  efforts  on  counter-
terrorism  and  related  development  assistance  to  Horn  of  Africa  region  to  ensure  a 
holistic approach and to enhance the nexus between development and security. Full l 
and  coordinated  use  should  be  made  of  available  EU  and  Member  State  financial 
instruments and related development assistance to support the Horn of Africa region 
in a coherent and complementary way in its security/counterterrorism efforts. 

Real  partnership:  The  EU  must  ensure  full  ownership  of  this  Action  Plan  by  the 
countries of the region and work in partnership with them including involving civil 
society. This  will  mean  distinguishing between different States and regional actors, 
promoting local national and regional institutional needs, supporting the drafting and 
implementation  of  country-tailored  counterterrorism  legislation  and  developing 
programming based on credible and locally-derived evidence. Enhanced cross-border 
collaboration  and  confidence  building  between  Horn  of  Africa  States  and  Yemen 
should be encouraged. Regular consultation and coordination between donors should 
be ensured. 

Priority areas of action 

4.1 

Activities  already  being  undertaken  by  EU  Member  States  in  the  Horn  and  Yemen 
suggest  receptiveness  in  the  region  for  enhanced  EU  engagement  around  three 
relevant lines of action relevant for counterterrorism that require greater attention: 

• 

• 

• 

Efforts promoting the rule of law in law enforcement cooperation; 

Countering and preventing recruitment and violent extremism; and 

The strengthening of anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing 
(AML/CTF) arrangements. 

4.2 

4.3 

Given that the Horn of Africa and Yemen governments are currently focused on one 
or  more  of  these  issues  internally,  prioritisation  and  implementation  of  this  Action 
Plan  will  provide  opportunities  for  deeper  engagement  and  possible  dialogue  on 
security in the longer term. Encouraging regional collaboration will also help to build 
states  trust  in  each  other  and  foster  enhanced  cooperation  within  a  rule-of-law 
framework. 

Focusing  on  areas  aimed  at  preventing  terrorism  will  encourage  governments  and 
other key stakeholders in the region to engage with actors outside of the traditional 
military  and  security  sectors  and  will  enable  the  EU  to  support  the  relevant 
governments in their efforts to strengthen fundamental institutional capacities in the 
areas of criminal justice and financial oversight, for example by supporting criminal 
justice and rule of law initiatives in areas of investigation, conviction, imprisonment 
and rehabilitation across the region. 

4.4 

Action  should  focus  primarily  on  the  most  fragile  areas,  beginning  within  Somalia 
itself  and  then  including  a  core  cluster  of  countries  around  Somalia  i.e.  Djibouti, 

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Ethiopia,  Kenya.  This  will  be,  complemented  by  action  for  all  the  countries  of  the 
Horn and at the regional level. Yemen is included in regional concepts for the Horn 
in response to increased cooperation between terrorist groups based in Somalia and 
Yemen, including increased terrorist travel between the two, and the spill over effect 
across the Bab-el Mandeb strait; 

4.5 

Rule of law in law enforcement cooperation 

There is a growing recognition in the Horn of Africa that effective management of 
common regional and transnational threats can only be achieved through cooperative 
law  enforcement  arrangements,  and  a  mutually  respected  rule-of-law  framework 
aligned  with  international  human  rights  obligations  and  standards.  Criminal 
networks,  pirates  and  terrorist  groups  operate  across  the  region’s  internal  borders, 
illustrating starkly the need for enhanced cross-border law enforcement cooperation. 
The  EU  is  well  positioned  to  offer  national  governments  and  regional  institutions 
assistance  by  placing  increased  emphasis  on  strategically  coordinated  multi-session 
cross-border  cooperation  capacity  building  support  within  the  region.  There  is  a 
growing interest from regional actors in promoting independent judicial systems, and 
fostering  awareness  in  the  strategic  benefits  of  operating  within  a  rule-of-law  and 
human rights based counterterrorism framework. Activities could include: 

4.5.1  Fostering  trust  between  Horn  of  Africa  States  on  counterterrorism 
cooperation  The  region  continues  to  be  challenged  by  piracy  as  well  as  the  side-
effects of historical and contemporary inter-ethnic, inter-clan and inter-state conflicts 
that  have  generated  some  elements  of  distrust  between  different  governments,  and 
between  members of  civil  society and governments. Taking these contextual  issues 
into  account  the  EU  and  its  partners  should  foster  closer  cooperation  with  existing 
relevant  EU  capacity  building  activities,  for  example  in  the  field  of  CSFP/counter-
piracy.  The  EU  and  its  Member  States  could  also  focus  their  counterterrorism 
assistance  on  activities  supporting  practical  cross-border  interactions  to  build 
national and regional trust, by developing and supporting country specific measures 
under the following initiatives: 

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• 

• 

• 

joint investigation teams; 

joint training programs; 

study visits and staff exchanges; 

opportunities  for  practitioners  to  work  together  to  draft  legislation  and  tackle 
regional terrorism threats; 

efforts to raise criminal and legal professional standards; 

trust-building between and within states and civil society. 

4.5.2  Strengthening border management and border community security - weak 
border management allows terrorist and criminal groups safe space to operate, and to 
generate an economic base – through the illegal sale and transit of commodities, such 
as  livestock  and  grain,  and  from  taxation  of  both  licit  and  illicit  activities  such  as 
piracy. The development of improved border management skills and institutions will 

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depend on the provision of both training and equipment, and will also require greater 
to  community  based  policing  and  border-community  cooperation, 
attention 
recognising  the  particular  challenges  posed  by  the  needs  of  nomadic  communities. 
Activities could include: 

• 

• 

providing border management capacity building; 

supporting  the  development  of  a  more  accountable  community-policing 
to  social  cohesion,  community 
framework  with  explicit  commitments 
resilience and human rights. 

4.5.3  Strengthening  capacities  and  transforming  institutional  practices  in  the 
criminal  justice  sector  -Criminal  justice  sector  programming  should  build  on  the 
awareness  raising  and  training  exercises  developed  in  the  region  in  recent  years, 
which have dealt with practical subject-matters such as border security, community 
policing, investigations and intelligence gathering. Activities could include: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

effective  and  better  coordinated  practical  institutional  reform  of  criminal 
justice institutions; 

support to security sector reform aiming at establishment of civilian oversight 
bodies for accountable security institutions; 

modernization of national criminal justice institutions, based on rule of law and 
full respect for international human rights standards; 

sustained  partnerships  between  law  enforcement  institutions  in  the  Horn  of 
Africa and their counterparts in the EU and its Member States to foster long-
term organisational change in the criminal justice sector. 

4.6 

Countering and preventing recruitment and violent extremism 

Increased  communication  and  dialogue  between  states  and  community  organisations  can 
strengthen  rule-of-law  based  counterterrorism  cooperation  while  also  addressing  the 
underlying grievances that provide conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Numerous 
civil society groups in the region already play an important role in reducing inter communal 
tensions and preventing violent conflict.5 Activities could include:  

4.6.1  Undertake  community  engagement  to  prevent  violent  extremism  – 
vulnerable  groups,  including:  youth,  refugees,  ethnic  or  religious  minorities, 
residents of urban slums, prison populations, and politically marginalized groups, can 
be at risk of radicalisation. Terrorist recruiters can see opportunities to target fragile 
communities  and  expand  the  ideological,  logistical  and  financial  support-base  of 
their organisations. Activities could include: 

5 

Ongoing civil society activities include conducting and disseminating research, monitoring, advocating, 
lobbying  or  providing  oversight  over  government  activities.  Civil  society  also  support  sustainable 
development,  provide  humanitarian  relief,  improve  governance,  empower  marginalized  populations 
such  as  women  and  youth,  offer  professional  and  technical  expertise  and  constructively  facilitate 
conflict resolution and negotiation. 

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better  support  those  communities  whose  children  and  families  are  being 
targeted  for  recruitment  as  they  are  often  best  positioned  to  counteract  these 
efforts; 

engage with local organizations and both secular and religious authority figures 
that  are  intimately  aware  of  community  perceptions  and  have  a  deep 
understanding of particular grievances or drivers of radicalisation; 

engage -- in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and amongst diaspora communities in 
Europe -- with civil society organizations, community leaders or other credible 
authority  figures  such  as  religious  leaders,  women’s  groups  and  youth 
organizations  to  identify  and  address  grievances,  encourage  participation  in 
democratic life, discourage violent extremism and prevent terrorist travel from 
Europe to the region; 

engage  in  projects  to  prevent  and  counter  terrorist  propaganda  enhancing 
participation in the fights in the region (Yemen and Somalia); 

engage also with civil society, including charitable organisations, based in the 
diaspora  which  are  themselves  providing  assistance  to  Somalia  to  ensure  that 
they are aware of the risks of misappropriation of the money flows by terrorist 
organisations  and  help  them  to  ensure  that  this  assistance  does  not  get 
misdirected; 

development of common information matrices to ensure that limited resources 
are strategically deployed.  

4.6.2  Deepen  and  share  regional  knowledge  base  on  violent  extremism  -  A 
deeper  and  broader  evidence  base  of  how  violent  extremism  operates  in  the  region 
will  help  both  to  ensure  that  government  counterterrorism  efforts  in  the  region  are 
properly tailored to addressing the drivers of violent extremism and terrorism, and at 
the same time help to protect against the possible misuse of counterterrorism tools to 
repress political opposition and civil society: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

improve  strategic  allocation  of  limited  resources  by  the  EU  and  other 
international partners; 

support campaigns to promote interfaith dialogue and democratic participation; 

support  activities  that  facilitate  the  creation  of  knowledge  and  its  strategic 
analysis and effective dissemination in the form of good or best practices; 

promote madrassah reform projects (in particular in Kenya and Somalia). 

4.7 

Strengthening  arrangements  to  counter  money  laundering  and  financing  of 
terrorism (AML/CFT) 

4.7.1  The  Horn  of  Africa  financial  sector  remains  vulnerable  to  money  laundering 
and terrorist financing. Strengthening the foundations of anti-money laundering and 
countering terrorist financing mechanisms is crucial for the promotion of economic 
integration in the region, by combating the illicit money flows that fuel corruption, 

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terrorism and crime, undermining local growth and development. There is a growing 
awareness that future growth, development and access to global finance markets will 
depend  on  effective  implementation  of  AML/CFT  mechanisms  and  a  strengthened 
partnership with the financial private sector. Activities could include:  

• 

• 

frame  AML/CFT  mechanisms  as  stepping-stones  to  ensuring  global  financial 
market access, and thus contributing to the region’s high growth rates;  

engage  legislators,  parliamentary  committees,  private  sector  actors  and 
business  associations  in  the  region  to  raise  awareness  of  the  costs  of  money-
laundering and terrorist financing, at both the national and regional level. 

4.7.2  Establish  and  enhance  Financial  Intelligence  Units  (FIUs)  –  there  are 
discrepancies in the extent of development of FIUs in the region. A tailor made and 
well  coordinated  approach  is  necessary  therefore  to  advance  the  establishment  of 
FIUs  where  they  are  non-existent  and  strengthen  those  nascent  ones  recently 
established. Activities could include: 

• 

• 

coordinated  packages  of  AML/CFT  capacity-building  assistance  with  a 
particular  focus  on  strengthening  FIUs  –  in  full  complementarity  with  the 
actions undertaken by the EU to address piracy; 

involving a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -Style Regional Body (FSRB) 
in the programme delivery process to ensure local ownership. 

4.7.3  Broaden  and  strengthen  practical  AML/CFT  partnerships  -  The 
development  of  stronger  AML/CFT  arrangements,  especially  Financial  Intelligence 
Units, will require a web of partnerships across the region with government agencies, 
private  sector  actors 
financial 
financial 
intermediaries  such  as  remittance  agents)  and  civil  society  actors.  Actions  could 
include: 

institutions  and  other 

(especially 

• 

• 

capitalizing on the significant contribution of the informal financial sector and 
cash-based transactions; 

convening multi stakeholder policy discussions, information sharing and trust-
building. 

Additional country specific measures 

5. 

The  specificities  of  the  region  make  it  necessary  to  distinguish  between  different 
states  and  actors.  In  addition  to  the  thematic  issues  outlined  in  chapter  4, 
complementary  country  measures  are  a  necessary  precondition  for  effective 
implementation this Action Plan.  

Humanitarian  aid  is  provided  based  solely  on  needs  and  strict  adherence  to 
humanitarian aid principles. 

5.1  Yemen 

The proximity of Yemen to the region, illegal trafficking of all kinds, including the 
trafficking  of  human  beings,  interconnection  between  various  criminal  and  terrorist 

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groups, the instability of the country and the existence of safe havens pose a security 
threat to whole Horn of Africa region. The EU is engaged in Yemen to help combat 
terrorism  within  the  country,  and  the  inclusion  of  Yemen  in  this  Action  Plan  is 
necessary if any EU action in the region is to be successful. Special attention could 
be given to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

further support Yemen in the security sector reform aiming at establishment of 
civilian oversight bodies for accountable security institutions; 

support Yemen in integrating into regional organisations; 

prevent terrorist travel to Yemen; 

research on the involvement and the role of foreign fighters; 

focus  on  countering  violent  extremism,  while  paying  special  attention  to 
diasporas.  

5.2  Somalia 

As the major destabilising factor in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is at the centre of the 
EU counter-terrorism efforts in the region. Putting Somalia on a sustainable recovery 
path, while establishing security and effective governance at all levels is, therefore, 
essential to tackle the terrorist threat emanating from the crisis situation in Somalia. 
The  EU  is  engaged  in  Somalia  through  a  comprehensive  approach  through 
diplomatic, development, security as well as humanitarian actions. Special attention 
could be given:  

• 

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• 

efforts to build stable and accountable administrations and relevant institutions 
in Somalia, in close cooperation with relevant efforts done under CSFP; 

focus on direct and indirect reach-out efforts by Somali counterparts to radical 
groups in Somalia; 

prevent terrorist travel to Somalia; 

support  counter  radicalization  efforts  in  Somalia  and  promote  reconciliation 
efforts and peace building;  

strengthen local administrations' capacities in providing rule of law and justice; 

support to the Somali security sector; 

focus on de-radicalization, disengagement and education, including vocational 
training for job creation while paying special attention to diasporas; 

helping to rebuild basic financial infrastructure in Somalia; 

harnessing the social and financial capital held in the Somali informal financial 
sector; 

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• 

conducting outreach to and engagement of a range of non-traditional partners, 
such as Somali remittance organizations and informal foreign exchange agents. 

5.3  Kenya 

Kenya is an important player in the region. It is already the target of various terrorist 
groups  aiming  at  destabilizing  the  country,  and  these  attacks  might  in  future  target 
the  Kenyan  government  and  institutions  as  well  as  foreign  interests.  The  proximity 
with  areas  of  instability  increases  the  threat  of  radicalisation  and  illegal  activities, 
including  illicit  trafficking  and  money  laundering.  Special  attention  could  be  given 
to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

support  to  security  sector  capacity  building,  including  through  regional 
counterterrorism  cooperation  and  establishment  of  national  ct  coordination 
structures; 

countering and preventing incitement, recruitment and violent radicalisation; 

strengthening  capacities  for  anti-money  laundering  and  countering  terrorist 
financing  activities, 
the  Financial 
Intelligence Unit; 

through  enhancement  of 

including 

strengthening  border  management  and  border  community  cooperation  and 
security. 

5.4  Djibouti 

The possibility of international terrorist activity in Djibouti has long been perceived 
as high, Even if Djibouti’s importance to terrorists derives from its transit capabilities 
rather than its potential as a base for international terrorist organizations, there is still 
a  serious  threat  of  the  spread  of  violent  extremism  and  radical  movements  in  the 
country. Special attention could be given to: 

• 

support Djibouti in managing the refugee influx from Somalia and Ethiopia. 

5.5. South Sudan 

Terrorism  in  South  Sudan  is  one  of  the  important  problems,  considering  that  many 
terrorist  groups  have  established  their  activities  within  South  Sudan  territory. 
Furthermore, weak infrastructures allow for illegal entities movement. South Sudan 
is  not  member  of  any  international  agreement  related  to  counter-terrorism.  Special 
attention could be given to: 

• 

• 

• 

support for the rule of law and good governance;  

further support airport security in Juba International Airport;  

support South Sudan in ratification of relevant international agreements related 
to terrorism.  

5.6. Uganda 

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Even if Uganda does not face significant terrorism problems it has been the subject 
of  terrorist  attacks  in  the  past,  primarily  motivated  by  Uganda's  involvement  in 
Somalia.  Uganda  could  play  an  important  role  in  the  regional  context  in  order  to 
build  awareness  and  cooperation  on  a  regional  basis  where  Uganda  is  very  active. 
Special attention could be given to: 

• 

• 

Uganda's role in programmes aiming to foster trust between the Horn of Africa 
states, and to exchange staff and knowledge; 

benefiting from Uganda's experience from operating in Somalia (AMISOM). 

5.7  Ethiopia 

Ethiopia  has  significant  operational  counterterrorism  capabilities  and  potential,  and 
must  be  a  full  part  of  any  regional  counterterrorism  Action  Plan.  Special  attention 
could be given to: 

• 

• 

• 

improving the domestic legislative framework related to terrorism; in line with 
international standards; 

promoting inter-faith dialogue; 

encourage  Ethiopia  to  continue  to  play  a  positive  regional  role,  especially 
among East African Police Chiefs and within IGAD. 

5.8  Eritrea 

Eritrea could potentially be a useful partner in the fight against terrorism because of 
its extensive knowledge and networks in the region. Equally, it can also be a source 
of instability. As Eritrea is currently trying to break its isolation, there might be entry 
points  for  collaboration  in  the  field  of  security  and  counter  terrorism.  Special 
attention could be given to: 

• 

• 

supporting reintegration of Eritrea in IGAD; 

supporting involvement of Eritrea in discussions on regional security. 

5.9. Other regional players 

The  actions  of  other  regional  countries  including  in  particular  Sudan  and  Tanzania 
will also be important, and these countries will be engaged further as the Action Plan 
develops and in the light of prevailing political circumstances. 

Promotion of effective multilateralism – international and multilateral action 

6. 

Diplomatic  engagement  in  multilateral  and  international  formats  is  necessary  to 
promote  a  common  vision  and  build  a  common  perception  of  security  threats,  to 
tackle both cross-border security and address development challenges at the highest 
level. To this end the EU could:  

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• 

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engage  with  the  UN  in  promoting  UN  measures  related  to  counter-terrorism, 
the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and support the I-ACT activities in 
the region; 

collaborate  with  international  stakeholders  on  measures  countering  terrorism 
financing; 

coordinate  with  partners,  including  through  the  Global  Counter-Terrorism 
Forum  (GCTF),  and  with  Horn  of  Africa  countries  on  capacity  building 
measures; 

systematically include Horn of Africa security issues in the dialogue with the 
GCC  and  individual  Gulf  countries,  and  explore  options  for  collaboration  on 
AML/CTF; 

in its policy for Northern Africa, increase efforts to counter arms trafficking as 
weapons  from  Libya  remain  a  destabilising  factor,  e.g.  in  Sudan's  Darfur 
region; 

enhance  information  sharing  at  the  EU  level  and  with  international  partners 
including, Interpol and the World Bank. 

EN 

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   EN