NAIROBI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) — Enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure and public spaces against terrorist threats is central to Africa’s goals of peaceful development, inclusivity, and social cohesion, senior African officials said on Monday.
Speaking at the fifth Nairobi Caucus meeting in Kenya, delegates highlighted the increasing vulnerability of the continent’s strategic assets, including roads, bridges, airports, ports, and digital infrastructure, as threats from armed groups intensify.
Convened by Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Center and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the two-day forum is being held under the theme “Protecting Critical Infrastructure Systems and Public Spaces from Terrorism.”
The event has brought together senior policymakers, security experts, development partners, scholars, and civil society representatives to explore innovative strategies to prevent terrorist attacks on public infrastructure.
Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, noted that Africa has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with the critical infrastructure that sustains local livelihoods bearing the brunt of attacks.
“In 2026, the continent of Africa has suffered major terrorist attacks, including targeting critical infrastructure,” Mudavadi said, noting that six out of 10 countries most impacted by terrorism are in sub-Saharan Africa.
He urged regional governments to strengthen intelligence sharing, adopt global best practices, and implement security reforms to safeguard vital infrastructure, including power facilities, railways, dams, healthcare centers, and sports venues.
Steven Siqueira, deputy director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center, said that preventing terrorist attacks on Africa’s critical infrastructure is essential to sustaining economies, connecting communities, and delivering public services.
Siqueira added that the agency has partnered with the African Union, regional governments, and the private sector to intercept potential threats through technological tools, capacity building, heightened public awareness, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Kibiego Kigen, director general of Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Center, stated that the forum provides a platform for African nations to develop home-grown innovations to detect and prevent terror attacks on continental infrastructure.
Kigen advocated for integrated early warning systems, intelligence sharing, and predictive vulnerability mapping, alongside enhanced rapid stabilization capacity and resilient infrastructure design.
Launched in 2022, the Nairobi Caucus is an annual consultative forum that brings together regional bodies and international partners to address pressing security challenges and share counter-terrorism best practices across East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
