UN underlines support for Africa’s fight against terrorism

Along with terrorism ambassadors, leaders from across the continent looking at ways to improve collaboration between the UN and regional organizations to combat terrorism and better prevent violent extremism.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi served as the moderator of the discussion. The nation, which is now in charge of rotating the Security Council president, has been waging a violent insurgency in its northern region for more than five years.

‘Fertile ground’ for expansion

The inroads made by terrorist organizations in the Sahel and other regions of Africa deeply concerned the Secretary-General.

“Desperation, starvation, poverty, a lack of access to basic services, unemployment, and unconstitutional changes in government continue to provide fertile ground for the insidious spread of terrorist groups to infect new sections of the continent,” he warned.

He said that terrorist organizations are forming new partnerships with organized criminal networks and pirate organizations and that fighters, money, and weapons are moving between areas and across the continent more often. Also, their “violent ideals” are disseminated online.

Against terrorism, together

Mr. Guterres noted various programs across Africa, including in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and Mozambique, saying that “just as terrorism pushes people apart, fighting it can bring countries together.”

He said, “To stop this scourge, the United Nations stands with Africa.” Our continuous strong cooperation with the African Union (AU) and other regional and sub-regional African organizations is included most importantly.

According to Mr. Guterres, the UN provides specialized help to African nations in the areas of prevention, legal support, inquiries, prosecutions, reintegration, and rehabilitation.

maintain human rights

The UN is boosting cooperation on significant peace efforts while simultaneously co-organizing the next African Anti-Terrorism Conference with Nigeria. The Organization also supports new, Security Council-mandated, “strong” peace-enforcement missions and counterterrorism activities. He pleaded with nations to assist in this crucial endeavor.

In June, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was launched in 2006, will undergo its ninth review. This will present a “vital opportunity” for nations to develop fresh approaches to combat the circumstances that foster the growth of terrorism.

He continued by saying that the gathering would also serve as a reminder that human rights must be at the forefront of anti-terrorism measures.

Research suggests that counterterrorism initiatives that are exclusively security-focused rather than based on human rights may unintentionally deepen marginalization and exclusion and worsen the situation, he added.

The spread of terrorism is ongoing.

Although terrorism has existed for a very long time, the incoming AU Chairman, President Azali Assoumani of Comoros, remarked that “after the Libyan crisis in 2011, it has truly erupted, and notably in Africa.”

As a result, hundreds of foreign warriors and combatants poured into the Sahel, aiding in the introduction of terrorist organizations as well as “an unchecked movement of weaponry” across the continent.

“In this way, gradually, the scope of terrorism in Africa grew from north to south and from east to west. Speaking via an interpreter, he stated, “And the terrorist contagion persists, spreading in practically all parts of Africa.

He promised to put out “every effort” to see that the AU flagship program to “quiet the weapons” by 2030 comes to pass.

various circumstances, international threat

In his first-ever address to the UN Security Council, President Nyusi of Mozambique emphasized that terrorism is among the most significant challenges to the global society, along with climate change.

“The spread of terrorism poses a serious threat and is fueled by variables that change depending on the situation. Young people have been recruited more quickly to terrorist organizations, he said, speaking through an interpreter. “On the one hand, radicalization based on identity variables fuelled by intolerance and, on the other hand, the manipulation of socio-economic factors have accelerated recruitment to terrorist groups,” he said.

He stated that the Sahel is the “new epicenter” of terrorist assaults and cited the 2022 Global Terrorism Index to support his claim that 48% of terrorism-related fatalities happened in Africa.

African solutions and expertise

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the West African bloc ECOWAS, and its East African equivalent, IGAD, among others, have years of expertise in conflict resolution, according to President Nyusi of the AU and African nations.

In the northern province of Cabo Delgado, a SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has been battling terrorists for almost two years. This is an illustration of “African solutions to African issues” and a strategy that may be used elsewhere.

“For Mozambique, this experience is imbued with added value, as at present we are successfully combating terrorism by combining SADC regional multilateral efforts with bilateral efforts between Mozambique and Rwanda,” he said.