Thirty-seven suspected terrorists, including members of Islamic State (ISIS), have been arrested across East Africa including Kenya, over the past two months according to Interpol.
In a statement published on Monday, January 27, Interpol announced that Kenya accounted for nearly half of the arrests, detaining 17 suspects.
Additionally, the statement noted that the suspects were linked to ISIS, foreign terrorist fighters, and terrorism financing networks.
The arrests were made during a joint operation with AFRIPOL and eight regional partners.
“In Kenya, police arrested 17 people including two suspected ISIS members, several foreign terrorist fighters and others involved in terrorism financing, radicalization and propaganda,” stated Interpol.
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How the Interpol Operation Was Conducted
The operation, conducted between November and December 2024, targeted individuals tied to terror groups such as ISIS, Al-Shabaab, and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Some of the items seized by the authorities during the operation included small arms, heavy weapons, and explosives, disrupting efforts to fund and spread extremist activities.
Before the operation, each country developed a detailed operational plan, gathering intelligence on terror-related targets and their locations.
INTERPOL and AFRIPOL played key roles in consolidating, analyzing, and sharing this intelligence with the participating countries, ensuring a coordinated effort.
During the tactical phase, each country conducted strategic investigations and raids with active support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL officers, who provided logistical coordination and real-time data analysis on the ground.
Frontline officers at airports, land crossings, and ports were equipped with Interpol Mobile Devices, enabling real-time access to global databases of suspected terrorists and stolen travel documents.
Further, over five days, officers conducted 88,000 screenings, identifying 15 individuals wanted for crimes such as murder, fraud, and human trafficking. This led to 32 additional arrests unrelated to terrorism.
Also Read: Foreign National Jailed in Kenya Over False Terrorism Claims
Arrests Made in Other Countries
Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo arrested four alleged members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and two associates. Forces also seized and destroyed a missile and anti-tank device abandoned by suspected terrorists.
In Somalia, authorities arrested three individuals, including a suspected bomb maker from an Al-Shabaab Amniyaat unit responsible for planting Improvised Explosive Devices targeting law enforcement and military personnel.
Also, another detainee is believed to be an Al-Shabaab operative linked to several attacks on police checkpoints using hand grenades.
Meanwhile, law enforcement in Tanzania detained a suspected ISIS Mozambique member and a Ugandan national attempting to join a terrorist group in Mozambique as a foreign terrorist fighter.
Cyril Gout, Interpol’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, emphasized the challenges posed by East Africa’s borders and political instability.
“Terrorist groups exploit these vulnerabilities to expand their reach. This operation proves that cross-border collaboration is essential to staying ahead of threats,” he said.
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