Counterterrorism and Human Rights Abuses in Kenya and Uganda THE WORLD CUP BOMBING AND BEYOND

Counter-terrorism Human Rights

East Africa has emerged in recent years as a focus of both transnational terrorism and Western-backed counterterrorism efforts. Governments have a responsibility to combat terrorism in a lawful manner. But as this report documents, counterterrorism tactics and operations in East Africa have led to a variety of human rights violations. Governments in the region have cited the need to fight terrorism as a pretext to crack down on political opposition, human rights defenders, and lawful expressions of dissent. East African states conducting counterterrorism operations, and the Western states that provide security assistance for those operations, must recognize that respect for human rights is central to supporting effective counterterrorism strategy, the rule of law, good governance, and political stability.