Counter-terrorism workshop and policy dialogue in Accra
The policy dialogue brought together more than 40 experts from ten West African countries, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), international organisations, and AU specialised agencies.
From 6 to 9 October, Training for Peace (TfP) and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC) hosted two interrelated events in Accra, Ghana, on the spread of violent extremism from the Sahel to coastal West Africa. The events brought together senior officials, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers from across West Africa's coastal states, alongside representatives of continental, regional, and international organisations, civil society, and academia.
The convenings came at a critical time for the region. Violent extremist groups operating in the Sahel have continued to expand and have now reached the coastal states. They exploit local grievances, porous borders, and informal economies to establish a foothold and sustain their operations. Both events form part of the AUCTC's Sahel-Coastal States Integrated Project and contribute to implementing the AU's Continental Strategic Plan of Action on Countering Terrorism in Africa (2026–2030).
On 6–7 October, TfP and the AUCTC hosted a Regional Policy Dialogue on "Mitigating Terrorism Financing Risks in Coastal States of West Africa". The dialogue aimed to build a shared understanding of how violent extremist groups mobilise resources to sustain their expansion towards the coastal states, and to identify practical ways to strengthen prevention, detection, and cross-border cooperation.
On 8–9 October, the AUCTC and TfP followed with an expert validation workshop on the draft "Baseline Study on Vulnerability and Resilience Factors of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in West Africa Coastal States". The study, conducted by the AUCTC with support from NUPI researchers, examines the factors that leave communities exposed to radicalisation as well as those that have helped many remain resilient. Participants reviewed the findings and drew on their contextual knowledge to strengthen the analysis, helping ensure the study reflects realities on the ground and provides a sound basis for future prevention efforts by the AU, Member States, and partners.
The dialogue was officially opened by the National Security Coordinator of the Republic of Ghana, COP Osman Abdul-Razak. The opening session was also addressed by Mr Mounir Idriss Lallali , Acting Director of theAfrican Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), who expressed the AUCTC’s commitment to build the requisite state capacity to respond to terrorism financing risks, and Andrew E. Poku-Yaw Tchie, Ph.D, representing NUPI, expressed NUPI continued determination to support peace building approaches in Africa.