Russian Security Council warns of increasing levels of terrorism in Africa
Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism – According to Shafaqna, the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council has reported an increase in the level of terrorism in Africa and warned that the headquarters of the largest terrorist organizations may be moved to this continent.
The Russian news channel “RT Arabic” wrote on its website that “Yuri Kukov”, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the country, stated in an interview with the newspaper “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”: “In recent years, the African continent has actually become one of the main centers of terrorist activities, where extremists flock to this continent after failing to consolidate their positions in other regions such as the Middle East and South Asia.”
According to the Russian “Novosti” news agency, the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the country also stated in this regard: “The Sahel region of Africa alone accounts for more than half of all victims of terrorism in the world.” In 2024, 3,500 terrorist attacks were registered there, resulting in the deaths of more than 14,000 people, most of whom were civilians.
Kokov went on to explain that terrorist groups in Africa are involved in all types of criminal activities – kidnapping for ransom, illegal gold mining, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and illegal exploitation of natural resources. Their annual income amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars, which provides the financial resources necessary to expand the base of new supporters, maintain foreign terrorist fighters, and transfer them to other regions.
The deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council also emphasized that: “Some terrorist groups, after overthrowing legitimate governments, actually turn into quasi-state entities, take control of vast territories and administer justice in accordance with their own laws. The recognition of such a sovereign power by a part of the international community is also of particular concern.”
Kokov warned that in such circumstances, there is a high probability that the headquarters of the largest international terrorist organizations will be transferred to Africa, adding: “The real danger in this regard lies in the abuse of migration flows by international terrorists to move their active emissaries and supporters across borders and legitimize their presence in host countries. This will lead to the expansion of their influence, the recruitment of new members, and the formation of clandestine cells.”
