The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states are in Mombasa for a two-day High-Level Regional Forum focused on the IGAD Regional Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (RCCM), which aims to address Transnational Security Threats (TSTS) by validating the final draft of the statute and operationalizing it.
While opening the forum by the IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP), IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu said IGAD had been working on aspects to craft the RCCM which will bring concrete solutions that will put IGAD member states in a position to address transnational security threats.
“We are here not just as representatives of our respective nations, but as custodians of the safety, stability, and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in IGAD,” said IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu.
Dr. Wokneh said the IGAD region faces significant challenges, many of which transcend borders.
“We are no strangers to the threats of terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, and the illegal arms trade. These are threats that have disrupted lives, weakened economies, and tested the resilience of our nation,” said Workneh.
“The growing prevalence of organized crime, with reported incidents rising by 30% in recent years, is a stark reminder of what is at stake. Similarly, the annual cybersecurity report estimates that the global cybercrime economy is valued at 9.5 trillion dollars a year or 793 billion USD a month in 2024, highlighting the scale of the challenges we must confront together,” he added.
According to the IGAD Secretary General, the Regional Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism against Transnational Security Threats is IGAD member states commitment to working together to confront these threats head-on.
Building on the foundation laid by IGAD’s Security Sector Program, the mechanism is designed to enable IGAD member states to share intelligence more effectively, harmonize their legal frameworks, and strengthen their capacity to respond to threats as a unified region.
“We have already made significant strides. For example, IGAD’s conventions on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition, though awaiting broader ratification, have set the groundwork for legal coordination across borders,” said Dr.Workneh.
“The establishment of the IGAD Criminal Information System (ICIS) promises to revolutionize how we collect and share intelligence, making our responses faster and more effective. Additionally, the capacity-building workshops held since 2014 have equipped over 2,000 security professionals with the skills needed to tackle these complex challenges,” he added.
During the forum, IGAD Chair Ambassador Mohamed Ali Hassan said the Regional Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism against Transnational Security Threats and its accompanying statute is a blueprint for a safer, stronger, and more united IGAD region.
“The globe is becoming a village. The village which we are living in has a lot of opportunities and challenges. One of the challenges is the issue of security. That is why we are going to have an instrument that is going to be ratified by each of our member states to not only combat the criminals but also the crimes that threaten the lives and livelihoods of member states,” said Amb. Hassan, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti.
On his part, Kenyan Ambassador to Djibouti, George Macgoye urged member states to leverage also on technology to combat transnational crime.
Amb. Macgoye reminded member states that a unified approach was needed to combat crimes such as terrorism.
“This tool gives a great opportunity for all of us working together to enter into that space and eliminate any opportunity that arises, to rise to the challenge and take any advantage of technology and other mechanisms that are in place; that even our institutions can mirror with cutting edge technology and expertise that is alive to constant changing nature of transnational crime and terrorism,” said Amb. Macgoye.
