Transnational Organized Crime and Peacebuilding in East Africa

Transnational organized crime (TOC) is a pervasive global issue, including Africa. It is especially prevalent and damaging in conflict-affected and fragile states in East Africa. TOC in East Africa takes many forms, including organized violence, financial crimes, narcotics and human trafficking, piracy, and cybercrime. The issue of TOC is deeply connected to security and peacebuilding as it thrives in insecure environments with weak rule of law, corrupt state institutions, and limited cross-border law enforcement collaboration.

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Messay Asgedom Gobena, assesses the relationship between TOC, conflict, and peacebuilding in East Africa. He highlights the state of play and underlying issues fueling TOC in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. He also provides policy recommendations for how the governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, the African Union, and key stakeholders can tackle transnational organized crime and support peace and security efforts in East Africa.

The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) is a continent-wide network of African policy, research and academic organizations that works with the Wilson Center’s Africa Program to bring African knowledge and perspectives to U.S., African, and international policy on peacebuilding in Africa. Established in 2011 and supported by the generous financial support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the project provides avenues for African researchers and practitioners to engage with, inform, and exchange analyses and perspectives with U.S., African, and international policymakers in order to develop the most appropriate, cohesive, and inclusive policy frameworks and approaches to achieving sustainable peace in Africa.