A joint counter-terrorism operation conducted by Interpol and Afripol across eight East African countries has resulted in the arrest of at least 37 suspected terrorists.
The operation, carried out late last year, targeted members of various terrorist groups, including ISIS, al-Shabaab, and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
In addition to the arrests, authorities seized small arms, heavy weapons, and even a missile.
“Those arrested include suspected members of ISIS (Daesh), Al Shabaab, and several foreign terrorist fighters,” Interpol said in a statement.
Kenya saw the highest number of arrests, with 17 individuals apprehended, including two suspected ISIS members and several foreign terrorist fighters involved in terrorism financing, radicalization, and propaganda.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, where the ADF operates, saw the arrest of four alleged ADF members and two associates, along with the seizure and destruction of a missile and an anti-tank device.
In Somalia, authorities detained three individuals, including a suspected al-Shabaab bombmaker and an operative linked to grenade attacks on police checkpoints.
Tanzania arrested an alleged ISIS Mozambique member and a Ugandan national attempting to join a terrorist group in Mozambique.
The operation involved close collaboration between Interpol, Afripol, and law enforcement agencies in the participating countries.
This coordinated effort demonstrates the crucial role of regional cooperation and intelligence sharing in combating terrorism and enhancing security across the African continent.