Seal gaps in war on terror
Terrorism remains a major threat to national, regional and global security despite the efforts by governments to curb the menace. This grave challenge requires all hands on deck. It cannot be left to the authorities alone. Individuals can volunteer information to help track down the perpetrators and their allies.
However, terrorists often operate in networks that spread fear. NGOs are making a valuable contribution by complementing government efforts in the war on terror. NGOs are good at fundraising, which is being abused by people driven by extremist ideologies.
However, a new report has implicated NGOs in terrorism funding. It says that some NGOs intentionally or unintentionally divert their funds to aid terrorists.
The Public Benefit Organisations Regulatory Authority, Financial Reporting Centre, Muslims for Human Rights and the Kenya National Civil Society Centre teamed up with other organisations to compile this report that has exposed the deadly connivance.
Some of the NGOs have been able to conceal the movement or distribution of funds and thus abet this grave threat to peaceful and law-abiding citizens. The terrorist groups develop working relations with NGOs or some individuals within them and take advantage of their systems and operations to wreak havoc.
The failure to verify sources of donations wired to the organisations and a lack of financial control are some of the loopholes that the terror masterminds often exploit.
Also faulted is the lack of effective regulations for cryptocurrencies and non-profit organisations, weak regulation and oversight on the real estate sector, banking fraud and airport surveillance.
The government should seal the loopholes that allow non-profit organisations to divert funds to terrorism actors. It can do this by enhancing the financial monitoring of these organisations.
