Despite being recognised globally as an effective strategy, community-oriented policing has been underused in Africa’s peace missions. This is according to the Senior Researcher and Training Coordinator at the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa, Meressa Dessu.

Dessu says community members are best placed to recognise suspicious activities in their areas, including those associated with radicalisation and extremism. He says established partnerships with communities allow the police to act proactively, solve crime and violence problems, and build local resilience to extremism.