At the Security Council meeting chaired by Algeria; UN Deputy Secretary-General emphasizes innovation in combating terrorism in Africa

 

According to IRNA from the UN Information Center, Amina Mohammed, Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UN Sustainable Development Group, made this statement at the meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday on the threat of terrorism and strengthening counter-terrorism measures in Africa chaired by Algeria, the President of the Security Council in January. The UN Deputy Secretary-General emphasized that the Security Council has an important role in supporting the African Union’s counter-terrorism initiatives based on African leadership and solutions.

Mohammed said that terrorism is the greatest threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the African continent, adding that despite the continued efforts of UN member states in the region, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 59 percent of the world’s terrorism-related deaths.

He said that the Sahel region of Africa has become the epicenter of one of the most violent crises in the world, with terrorism-related deaths in the region exceeding 6,000 for three consecutive years, accounting for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths in the world. Burkina Faso now has the highest number of terrorism-related deaths in the world, with a 68 percent increase in terrorism-related deaths. This is while groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS have expanded their operations to coastal countries in West Africa, with violent attacks increasing by more than 250 percent in two years.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General said in another part of his remarks that a new group called “Lakurawa” is carrying out cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and north-western Nigeria. There is also a growing risk of terrorist groups infiltrating northern Ghana, as well as Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

Mohammed added: The threat of terrorism also persists in other parts of Africa, and groups such as “Al-Shabaab” in Somalia, “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and “Ahle Sunna wal-Jama’a” in Mozambique continue to carry out violent acts.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General noted that these groups not only instill fear among local communities but also commit sexual violence and forcefully recruit children.

Amina Mohammed continued: “In the current situation in the West African region, the future of the region is at stake.” The marginalization of young people, coupled with high unemployment, has left an entire generation vulnerable to extremist groups. If we do not act, we risk losing this generation to the terror of terrorism. While acknowledging the complexity of the issue of terrorism, he stressed: “As terrorism evolves, we must evolve our approaches.”

The UN Under-Secretary-General noted that effectively countering terrorism in Africa must involve innovation with an approach focused on respect for human rights and the rule of law. Referring to the “Future Treaty” ratified by UN member states last September, he stressed: “Now is the time to fulfill unfulfilled commitments and fulfill the promises made in the Future Treaty with decisive action.”

Stressing that combating the roots of terrorism, including poverty, inequality and frustration, he added: “We also need human rights-based approaches and regional cooperation to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.”

Bankoli Adewale, the Commissioner for Political, Peace and Security Affairs of the African Union, also noted at the Security Council meeting that last year the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUTUC) recorded a total of 3,400 terrorist attacks on the African continent, which resulted in the deaths of more than 13,900 people.

Stating that the African Union has readjusted its strategic approach to the dynamics of terrorism, he said: “Terrorist attacks are expected to increase by 10 to 15 percent this year, and it is necessary for the African Union and the United Nations to jointly support the necessary measures to finance peacebuilding operations within counter-terrorism frameworks.”

In this regard, he stressed the urgent activation of Security Council Resolution 2719 (adopted in 2023), calling it an important step to advance the African Union’s efforts in the fight against terrorism. This resolution paves the way for the African Union peacekeeping mission in Africa to access UN funding.

Russian Representative: Western Countries Hide Their Role in Creating Favorable Conditions for Terrorism in Africa

Russian Representative Vasily Nebenzia said at the Security Council meeting: African countries experienced a rapid spread of international terrorism following the Western military invasion of Libya in 2011. Western countries destroyed the country’s government and economy under the pretext of protecting Libya. These tragic events provided a favorable environment for the strengthening and expansion of terrorist groups across the continent. He added: Today, Western countries give long speeches about the so-called favorable conditions for terrorism in Africa, while hiding the fact that their miscalculations and illegal actions played a significant role in creating these conditions.

According to IRNA, the Security Council meeting was chaired by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, with the aim of examining the spread of terrorism in Africa and its effects on the security and stability of the continent. The Algerian Foreign Minister, whose country holds the presidency of the Security Council in January, recently stressed the need to increase awareness about the threat of terrorism in Africa and said that terrorist groups in Africa have evolved into “terrorist armies.” In this regard, the “Conversation” news website recently warned in an analysis that if the current trend continues, we may soon witness the formation of an extremist and terrorist state in the style of the ISIS regime in West Africa.

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