AVIATION SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL CONFLICT- NEW AND EMERGING THREATS

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• AVIATION SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL
  CONFLICT- NEW AND EMERGING THREATS
  
• BY
• KALYA J.D
• AVIATION SECURITY MANAGER,
• CAA- UGANDA

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INTRODUCTION

• The current threat to Civil Aviation in the
  African region and East Africa in particular has
  been exacerbated by the on going global/regional
  conflicts.
• The new emerging terrorist groups like the
  AQIM(pronounced as AKIM)- Al-queda in the Magreb
  region, the Bok Haram in Nigeria, plus unstable
  states in the north and central Africa, has, and
  shall continue to adversely affect Civil Aviation
  operations.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION

• Appreciate the role of Civil Aviation security in
  the great lakes region
• Understand the nature of threats to civil
  aviation
• Know the current regional threat status in the
  region
• Identify the groups who are a threat to civil
  aviation
• Identify New and emerging threats to civil
  aviation and how they can be mitigated
• Assess the Impact of security threats on the
  regional economy
• Make recommendations and proposals

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AVIATION SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL
CONFLICT NEW AND EMERGING THREATS

• New and Emerging threats
• What are they?
• Possible sources
• World trend
• Impact on regional level
• Mitigating measures
• Lessons learnt

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NEW AND EMERGING THREATS

• Drug trafficking- East African Airports are
  becoming conduits for International Drug
  Trafficking.
• Human and human parts Trafficking- There is an
  increase in human trafficking from East African
  Countries to Europe and Middle East. Isolated
  cases of persons being enticed to sale off their
  kidneys.
• MANPADs- The end of the cold war has led to arms
  proliferation. Such arms have been accessed by
  terrorist groups like Al-shabab. There are used
  against Civil Aviation.

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New threats, contd

• The large picture, visa via regional economy,
  human rights, global village, free movement of
  goods and services, investment opportunities.
• Chances lost. 
• Way forward
• Acceptance of change, adoption of best practices,
  and recognizing our self as change agents.
• Recommendations/proposals

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Threat assessment

• Mitigating measures in place
• Threat assessment
• What is the current regional threat status to
  civil aviation?
• Inability to detect
• Who are these groupings?
• What are their objectives?
• What are their capabilities?
• To what extent have their activities impacted on
  to civil aviation operations?

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COMMON OR POSSIBLE TRHEATS TO CIVIL AVIATION

• The most common acts of unlawful interference
  are
• Unlawful seizure of aircraft (hijack)
• Sabotage of aircraft
• Sabotage of airport and airport facilities
• Off- airport attacks (e.g. airport offices)
• Terrorists attacks

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AVIATION SECURITY AS A COUNTER MEASURE

• This is a combination of measures- human and
  material resources intended to safe guard civil
  aviation against acts of unlawful interference

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WHY CIVIL AVIATION IS CONSIDERED AN ATTRACTIVE
TARGET TO TERRORISTS

• It is a high profile industry- an attack is
  likely to be spectacular and generate substantial
  media coverage
• Has high commercial value- a commercial aircraft
  costs millions of dollars
• There are high passenger traffic levels- aircraft
  carry large numbers of passengers.
• Air craft belong to states.

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• In addition, airports are busy and crowded
  places, that an attack ensures a high chances of
  significant numbers of fatalities and
  causalities.
• An attack/ incident provokes, government
  reaction- by applying stringent security
  measures, policies, laws that are costly and
  disruptive to society.

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• Multinationallity of passengers- aircraft carry
  passengers of different nationalities and an
  attack would affect several states.
• Some airlines are national carriers- an attack on
  a national carrier is an attack on the state.
• There is limited risk to the perpetrators (in
  case of sabotage)

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SOME OF THE MOTIVES OF THE OFFENDERS

• Political
• Religious
• personal
• Discredit authorities
• Instill fear

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Recent methods used by offenders

• Use of aircraft as a weapon of destruction (sept.
  11, 2001, USA-
• Use of liquid explosives (Aug, 2011, UK)
• Suicide bomber (shoe bomber, 2011 X-Mas day USA-
• Suicide bomber (explosive hidden in underpants,
  Nigerian, Abdul Mutallab, 2009-

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• Use of vehicle bombs (Glasgow International
  Airport, 2007)
• MANPADs ( Israel passenger jet in Mombasa, Kenya,
  2002, DHL Cargo aircraft, Bagdad, 2003, UN
  aircraft in Angola, 2001)
• Criminals stole diamonds worth hundred of
  thousands of Euros, at Brussels airport from an
  aircraft, february,2013

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Great lakes aviation security status

• The Great Lakes Region has been characterized by
  conflicts- Democratic Republic of Congo, the
  Northern Uganda Conflict, southern Sudan,
  Burundi.
• The following groups are a threat to civil
  aviation
• Al-shabab
• The ADF- Allied Democratic forces
• Lords Resistance Army (LRA)
• The M23 ( DRC)
• Rwandan FDLR ( the Intarihamwe, DRC)
• The Burundian FNL

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• Some of these groups are terrorist groups
  (Al-shabab, ADF, LRA)
• Their objectives are political and religious
• Al-shabab- religious/political
• ADF- religious/ political
• LRA- political
• The Al-shabab as a terrorist group is a potential
  and real threat to the region as was the case in
  the Kampala bombings.

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• The terrorist groups activities have a negative
  impact on the economy in general and civil
  aviation in particular, cases in point,
• The bombing of American Embassies in
  Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi. British Airways diverted
  its flights to Entebbe International Airport and
  this led to loss of revenue to Kenya and Tanzania
  governments.
• When the Rwandan Intarihamwe attacked and killed
  American tourists in Bwindi impenetrable forest,
  the Ugandan tourist sector was adversely
  affected.

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• Cybercrime
• The recent wave of ATM machines robberies in
  Kampala by Serbian and Ugandan nationals.
• Intrusion, manipulation and abuse of sensitive
  information/data. Case of (wiki leaks)
• Computer bank fraud.
• Piracy of patented products.
• Internet crime- face book mobilization, case of
  northern Africa states.
• Continental conflicts have introduced a new angle
  to the treat
• Small arms proliferation- The Congo, Somalia,
  Sudan conflict has led to small arms
  proliferation in the region
• Collapse of Libya Government- the collapse of
  Libya has led to creation of new terrorist groups
  like AQIM( Al-queda in the Magreb) armed with
  modern weapons from former regime. This might
  have a spill over effect into the East African
  region.

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MITIGATING MEASURES

• Creation of Regional Aviation regulating agency.
  CASSOA( Civil Aviation Security and Safety
  Oversight Agency)that shall harmonies
  implementation of safety and security operations.
  
• Co-operation with international agencies,
  partner states and regional aviation bodies .
• Ensure strict adherence to regulations. Empower
  inspectors and enforcement.
• Training.
• Proper remuneration of the foot soldier.
• Equipment commensurate to the task.

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• Implementation of ICAO Standard Operating
  Procedures(SARPs).
• Training of personnel conducting Aviation-
  security procedures to meet sophisticated enemy
  tactics and weaponry.
• Collaboration with partner states and
  international bodies.
• After 11th Sept, 2001, ICAO established a
  Universal Security Audit Program (USAP) and
  subsequent programs such as Screeners
  Certification. Uganda was the first country to be
  benefit from USAP

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LESSONS LEARNT

• The East African Region is a first growing
  economic block and cannot afford to operate in
  isolation as far as Aviation Security is
  concerned.
• Failure to safe guard the East African skies will
  negatively impact the regional economy.
• A safe and secure air transport enables quick
  facilitation and free movement of global goods
  and services.

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• Need to enhance anti terrorism laws remaining
  cognizant of Human Rights concerns. The Uganda
  Terrorist Act , 2002 has been criticized by many
  human rights organizations and activities.
• Aviation Security as a discipline requires proper
  funding, training and equipping to effectively
  counter organized crime.

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THE WAY FORWARD

• Accept the reality that terrorism is here to stay
  for an unspecified period, and adopt pro-active
  responses to threat information - Terrorists are
  well funded are able to constantly change
  tactics, weaponry, and communication.

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RECOMMENDATIONS/ PROPOSALS

• Implementation of ICAO Security SARPs in the East
  African countries.
• Conduct Security Audit Programmes (SAP).
• Establish an Anti- Terrorist Task Force at the
  East African Community Secretarial.
• Correcting the non conformities identified during
  the Security Audit Programmes(SAP).

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• Joint training of Aviation Security personnel.
• Developing an Intervention Force in the region.
• Intelligence sharing among the Regional States.
• Joint Nations Aviation Security Meetings.
• THANK YOU! COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS