Special focus AU RECs: Ad hoc structures have been set up to fight violent extremism in the Sahel, but they often overlap and compete for scarce funding and troop contributions. The threat of violent extremism in the Sahel has now become one of the biggest challenges for countries in West…
The National People’s Congress (NPC) of China will donate USD 1 million to the IPU for its work on countering terrorism and violent extremism within the framework of a joint project with the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). IPU…
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the importance of strategic relations between his country and the United States, especially military cooperation, which he considered “essential to confront the current challenges that threaten the security and stability of the whole region.” Sisi met on Tuesday with General Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the…
Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it will implement the United Nations Security Council’s resolution to curb terrorism and violent extremism in the country, weeks after the country saw the worst jihadi attack. The announcement came days after the visit by the UN Assistant Secretary General (ASG) and Executive Director of…
In the wake of the Easter Sunday suicide attacks by Muslim youth inspired or instigated by the Islamic State (ISIS), there is renewed interest in understanding how youth radicalisation happens. Some are asking whether, among other factors, the internet and social media also contribute to it. Since 21 April, news…
A number of Maranao youths from the five barangays of Marawi underwent series of training, youth camp, and reflective sessions to address the conditions that spice up violent extremism, learn peaceful conflict resolution, and bridge youths in crafting their community peace agenda. These activities were targeted to increase youth’s knowledge;…
The young man sitting in the waiting room of our neuroimaging facility wearing skinny jeans and trainers looked like a typical Spanish 20-year-old of Moroccan origin. Yassine* was bouncy, chatting up the research assistants, and generally in good spirits. He was like so many other Barcelona youths, except he openly…
For Arno Arr Michaelis, anti-social behaviour became a kind of addiction as a kid. “Hate was just another part of the thrill,” he says. “Really what I craved was to repulse civil society and nothing appals people more than a swastika.” He joined a neo-Nazi skinhead group in the US…
The government is investing 3.5 million euros into counter-terrorism measures at six train stations in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, among others, the Telegraaf reported on Tuesday. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management would not say exactly which train stations are involved, according to the newspaper. “Measures are…
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) presented today in Sarajevo its publication on referral mechanisms for preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT). The publication, entitled Understanding Referral Mechanisms in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism –…
Congress charged the U.S. Institute of Peace with convening the Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States. Following the public launch of the Task Force’s final report, four groups of experts came together to discuss how to implement the report’s recommendations. This four-part series will discuss the findings from these…
Far-right extremism is widespread in the Western Balkans and exists in both mainstream political parties and extremist groups and individuals. Most of the literature focuses on Serbian nationalist groups, but far-right groups are also present in Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. While their precise aims differ, far-right…
