The Challenges of Coordination in Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Ethiopia

Abstract

Terrorism has become a global threat to the well-being of humanity. The Horn of Africa is one of the areas where the impact of terrorism has been clearly felt. Ethiopia has also been experiencing some acts of terrorism. The general objective of this study was, therefore, to assess the challenges of counter-terrorism efforts in Ethiopia and to recommend ways to address them. Methodologically, the article employed an interpretive research approach in which qualitative data were collected and then analyzed thematically. Accordingly, a nine-item interview guide was prepared, and face-to-face interviews were conducted with a purposeful selected 10 study participants. Furthermore, in-depth analysis of available documents were made to triangulate the findings of the interview data. Accordingly, The article found that counter-terrorism efforts in Ethiopia have been constrained by the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation’s failure to include all relevant stakeholders institutions, the Penal Code’s failure to address the unique and complex nature of terrorist crime, and the lack of coordination and unit cohesion among the different operational units of the Federal Police Force. Therefore, it is recommended that for effective national counter-terrorism efforts, the National Anti-Terrorism The Coordinating Committee should be revised to include all relevant stakeholders, and The three anti-terrorism operational units of the Federal Police Force are organized. under one command.