Al-Shabaab and ISIS suspects among 37 Arrested in Multi-Nation East Africa Operation

LYON, France — An extensive counter-terrorism operation across East Africa has resulted in the arrest of 37 suspects and the seizure of various weapons, with some detainees linked to ISIS and Al Shabaab, authorities said Friday.

The operation, conducted between November and December 2024, involved INTERPOL and AFRIPOL and spanned eight countries. In Kenya, 17 individuals were arrested, including two suspected ISIS members and others involved in terrorism financing and propaganda.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, four alleged members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and two others were detained. Authorities also destroyed a missile and an anti-tank device left behind by suspected terrorists.

Somalia saw the arrest of three suspects, including a bomb maker from Al Shabaab's Amniyaat unit, known for planting IEDs against law enforcement and military targets, and another operative who attacked police checkpoints with hand grenades.

Tanzania arrested one suspected member of ISIS Mozambique and a Ugandan attempting to join a terrorist group in Mozambique.

The operation was preceded by comprehensive intelligence gathering and strategic planning by each participating nation, with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL coordinating the exchange of criminal intelligence. During the raids, officers from both organizations provided real-time support on the ground.

Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, emphasized the necessity of international collaboration in countering terrorism in East Africa's volatile environment.

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, highlighted the operation as a demonstration of how unified strategies can disrupt criminal networks and enhance regional security.

GAROWE ONLINE