Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism – In just a matter of years, Africa has become the “global picenter of terrorism”, with groups such as Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates exploiting local conflicts and fragilities to serve their own ends, the UN Secretary-General said, calling for violent extremism to be rooted out.
Speaking at a meeting in New York on counter-terrorism initiatives across the continent, António Guterres said terror groups were “shredding the social fabric of entire countries with the blades of violence, mistrust and fear”.
“Community by community, terrorist groups are extending their reach,” he said, adding that networks are widening, adding fighters and resources, and making common cause with transnational organized crime.
“In every case, civilians are paying the highest price and, in the end, all of humanity pays.”
Addressing an audience of counter-terrorism experts, government officials and civil society and private sector representatives, Mr. Guterres said the crisis must be tackled head on before it spins out of control.
