S/PV.6965 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/2013/264, which contains the text of a letter dated 30 April 2013 from the Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, the Ministers and the other representatives present in the Chamber. Their participation in this meeting is an affirmation of the importance of the subject matter under consideration. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Algeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Sudan and Tanzania to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Abdullahi Shehu, Director General of the Integovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. I recognize the presence of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and give him the floor.

I wish to thank the Togolese delegation, and in particular His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, for having organized this important meeting. Terrorism is a threat to peace, security and development in Africa. From Al-Shabaab in the east, to Boko Haram in the west, to Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in the north, extremist groups and terrorist entities have entrenched their presence in several parts of the continent. In Somalia, significant progress has been made ​towards restoring stability since Al-Shabaab was expelled from several strategic locations. However, if we are to consolidate these gains and prevent the resurgence of that group, much remains to be done with respect to the rule of law, development and the political transformation of the country. The new United Nations Mission in Somalia will contribute to the Federal Government by providing strategic guidance in the reform of the security sector and by helping it to strengthen the police, judicial and prison systems. In recent months, the international community has resolutely faced the rapid deterioration of the situation In Mali and the Sahel in general. The Security Council is not unaware that we have deployed a peacekeeping operation mandated with assisting the Malian transitional authorities in extending the authority of the State and in building instruments of legitimate governance. The Mission will operate in conjunction with the action taken to fight the insurgency in a new geopolitical situation that presents great challenges to the security and authority of United Nations peacekeeping, humanitarian and other personnel. (spoke in English) Military advances, important as they are, will not by themselves bring an end to terrorism in Africa. This struggle must go forward on many fronts, including by addressing the conditions that are conducive to the spread of terrorism. In the Sahel, for example, the United Nations is developing an integrated strategy that aims at enhancing governance and the rule of law, strengthening the capacity of national and regional security mechanisms, and integrating development and humanitarian activities in order to build resilience. Without such a holistic and sustained approach, we risk simply pushing the threat from one area to another. Terrorism thrives where borders are weakest. Poorly guarded and stored ammunition stockpiles provide unfettered access to weapons, in particular the components for improvised explosive devices  — the terrorist’s frequent weapon of choice. The lack of development and the absence of the rule of law allow terrorist groups to recruit across communities and build their ranks. Opportunistic links between terrorist and transnational organized criminal groups ensure the constant flow of people, money, weapons and illicit goods across borders, contributing to the survival and proliferation of such groups. In such a climate, the international community and the United Nations must do more to strengthen the capacities of affected Member States. Throughout Africa, United Nations missions are helping Governments to strengthen police and law enforcement, and to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) is active in West Africa, including in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The CTITF is also involved in North Africa through the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism, working on the issue of border management. In Central Africa, we are focusing on reducing the flow of small arms. In East Africa, the United Nations is facilitating the development of a regional strategy, and in southern Africa, where the threat of terrorism is less imminent, the United Nations is working with the African Union on the crucial issue of prevention. The United Nations Mine Action Service is working with the African Union and countries across the continent on the safe management of munitions and the disposal of improvised explosive devices. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate continues to facilitate technical assistance and to help Member States in developing the right legislative tools. I welcome the initiative undertaken by several regional and subregional organizations to formulate counter-terrorism strategies. These will help us to identify common threats and challenges, prioritize responses, strengthen collaboration, improve coordination and target international assistance to themes and areas where it is most needed. Our joint efforts must be carried out in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and with due respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United Nations is strongly committed to doing its part to combat terrorism in Africa. Success is crucial for enabling Africans to meet their aspirations to live in dignity and peace.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement and I welcome his commitment to bring the Organization into the fight against terrorism. I now give the floor to Mr. Shehu. Mr. Shehu: It is a great honour and privilege for me to be invited to this meeting of the Security Council specifically convened to discuss the issue of peace and security in Africa and the challenges of the fight against terrorism in the context of maintaining international peace and security. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to highlight the activities of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) in the context of promoting regional integration within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations against money laundering and the financing of terrorists and proliferation, all within the Security Council’s integrated approach to conflict prevention and the maintenance of international peace and security. I would like to thank you in particular, Mr. President, for extending an invitation to me and to our regional body, GIABA, to contribute to this high- level discussion. The Action Group is a specialized institution of ECOWAS mandated to support member States in the prevention and control of transnational organized crime, in particular money laundering and the financing of terrorists and proliferation. Before giving a summary of the programmes and activities of GIABA in the discharge of its mandate, which is consistent with the Security Council’s objective of promoting and maintaining international peace and security, permit me to briefly address the very pertinent theme of this debate, which is the issue of peace and security in Africa and the challenges of fighting terrorism. Peace is not necessarily the absence of war; nor can we say that it is the size of weapon arsenals that determines security. Peace is the general condition in which there is a sense of happiness or lack of fear about the conditions that create insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, economic development, good governance and the rule of law. We cannot fully understand the security situation in Africa without fully understanding the vulnerabilities and risk factors that engender conflict and instability. It has been estimated that no fewer than 28 sub-Saharan African States have been at war since 1980, with varying devastating consequences for the peace and security of the region. Many factors, including political corruption, a lack of respect for the rule of law, and human rights violations, account for most of the conflicts. The fragility of many African countries makes them vulnerable to conflict, mostly internally induced. In West Africa, for example, about 60 per cent of the population is in the age bracket of 25 to 50 years. The population of about 380 million is estimated to increase by 52 per cent by the year 2030. The unemployment rate of the work-age population ranges between 30 and 50 per cent. The region had an average gross domestic product (GDP) of $17,519 as of 2009, excluding that of Nigeria, which is $6,699, and three fourths of the GDP is dependent on external trade, mostly primary commodities. The combined GDP of the 15 ECOWAS member countries does not equal the GDP of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Argentina or South Africa, taken individually. The United Nations Development Programme estimated that 12 out of the 15 ECOWAS countries, as of 2009, fell into the low human development group, with one having the lowest development index in the world. With an average growth rate of only 4.5 per cent per annum since 2000, it is difficult, if not impossible, to address the underlying conditions that fuel criminality in the region, including terrorism. Added to that particular scenario, overall in Africa, the arms trade  — both legitimate and illegitimate — has a significant impact on conflict and on conflict resolution. The five permanent members of the Security Council account for the largest official arms sales worldwide. Where conflicts are of an insurgency nature, multinational oil companies have been alleged to have exacerbated such conflicts  — for example, in the Niger Delta of Nigeria  — thereby creating a vicious cycle of instability. With all that, the number of refugees and people in refugee-like situations has remained alarming. The strength of the individual economies of nations in the developing world continues to be a significant factor in the timing of many arms- purchasing decisions. In some cases, increases in the price of oil, while an advantage for major oil- producing countries in funding their arms purchases, has simultaneously caused economic difficulties for many oil-consuming countries, contributing to their decisions to curtail or to find new types of weapons acquisitions. On the side of capital, which is needed for sustainable development, in 2006 alone developing countries lost about $858.6 billion to $1.6 trillion in illicit financial flows. Out of that, Africa is estimated to have lost $854 billion from 1970 to 2008. Some estimate that the real figure is about $1.8 trillion. That is why the prevention of money laundering is crucial in the context of protecting the international financial system from abuse and of promoting international peace and security. Terrorist acts are manifested in various dimensions, the patterns and locations of which depend on the ideology, intents and capabilities of the perpetrators. But the impact is widespread. While most terrorist activities have been driven by extremist and political motivations, we can only speculate what sort devastation might result if terrorists groups were driven by feelings of deprivation, hunger, poverty and unemployment. That might be even more difficult to control in a developing country. Despite that, most African countries are incapable of dealing with the problems in isolation, owing to the many challenges I shall discuss shortly. The challenges of fighting terrorism in Africa, despite the absence of a universally acceptable definition of terrorism, constitute the major threat to international peace and security. Many initiatives have been taken by the United Nations, particularly within the framework of maintaining international peace and security. Yet, the challenges of dealing with the problem remain. In Africa, as in other developing countries of the world, those challenges are reflected in various ways. The overall impact of the risk factors mentioned earlier, including poverty, unemployment, a lack of respect for the rule of law and human rights violations, collectively contributes to the rising level of terrorist activities and presents challenges to efforts to deal with the problem in the context of national and international security. In addition, political corruption has led to the emergence of leaders who came to power through illegal means, including fraudulent elections, thus undermining their legitimacy to take practical and decisive actions against perpetrators of terrorist acts. The overall weaknesses in the legal framework and institutional mechanisms for the prevention of terrorist acts, the inadequate skill and manpower for effective law enforcement, the insufficient resources and competing priorities for them, and the inadequate inter-agency cooperation within countries and internationally all contribute to the rising spate of terrorism. It is crucial that any strategic approach to the prevention and control of terrorism also address the financing of terrorism. The challenges in that regard include the lack of a clear definition of the meaning of “terrorist funds and assets” in the legislation of some countries, notwithstanding the guidelines provided by the United Nations; the absence of designated authority for the enforcement of freezing measures, where they exist at all; the inadequate understanding of Security Council resolutions related to terrorism and terrorist and proliferation financing; the absence of policies or procedures for the effective dissemination of the lists of terrorists circulated by the United Nations committees among financial and non-financial institutions; the inadequate capacity at the national level to designate persons identified as terrorists and determine the procedure for freezing their assets; the lack of information on and/or proper understanding of the delisting process; and the lack of diligent investigation and prosecution, which hampers the speedy delivery of justice on the one hand, and makes for a very slow judicial process, on the other. These have led to a relatively low number of convictions. Furthermore, there is the prevalence of corruption and the porosity of borders, which, as the Secretary- General pointed out, provide an environment conducive to international criminality; the backwash effects of globalization and internationalization, which afford criminals the economic space and technology to execute their transactions on a massive scale and almost without detection, against the limited capacity of competent law-enforcement authorities. Let me briefly address the regional response to the threat of transnational organized crime, in particular terrorism, within the framework of ECOWAS. As part of their contribution to promoting peace and security in Africa and in fulfillment of their obligations under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, which requires mandatory enforcement of the decisions of the Security Council by States Members, the ECOWAS member States have adopted the following legal mechanisms at the regional level: the ECOWAS Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters; the ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, which calls for the control of cross-border crime, including terrorism, the adoption of anti-corruption measures and the coordination of national policies for the maintenance of regional security; a cooperation agreement between member States’ police forces on investigation in criminal matters; the adoption of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Other Related Materials; the adoption of a regional strategic framework for the prevention of terrorism in West Africa, during the most recent Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS; and the establishment of GIABA. The establishment of GIABA in 2000 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS was a practical demonstration of the strong political commitment of ECOWAS member States to dealing with transnational organized crime in the context of maintaining international peace and security. GIABA is mandated to develop strategies and assist ECOWAS member States in preventing and controlling money-laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing. Over the past eight years of its operation, GIABA has formulated a clear vision for its action, an overall mission statement, and a set of core values to guide its commitment. The mandate of GIABA aims at promoting the rule of law, and one of its priorities is to assist member States in enacting legislation of acceptable international standards against terrorism. Seven years ago, only one or two countries had stand-alone legislation against money-laundering; but by 2008, all ECOWAS member States had enacted legislation criminalizing the laundering of the proceeds of crime. Although some of that legislation requires improvement to conform to acceptable standards, what has been accomplished indicates significant progress in the regional efforts to combat money-laundering. On the financing of terrorism, GIABA designed, with the assistance of development partners, a model counter-financing of terrorism law, which was adopted by member States in June 2007. Currently, all ECOWAS member States except one have enacted legislation against the financing of terrorism. GIABA has thus been able to provide concrete assistance in a number of critical domains, such as the preparation of appropriate legislation and legal training; the establishment of a financial intelligence unit as a central authority for the receipt, analysis and dissemination of intelligence on money-laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing; the provision of threat assessments and the determination of risk; the establishment of active committees to oversee anti-money-laundering activities and the counter-financing of terrorism; the conduct of special typologist exercises to determine the methods and means used in money-laundering and financing of terrorism; the provision of information on advocacy regarding the financing of terrorism; the monitoring and evaluation of terrorist financing-specific activities and systems; and support for investigative and prosecutorial capacity-building, as well as regional and international coordination. Permit me, Sir, to look at the way forward. Achieving realistic peace and security in Africa within the context of promoting and maintaining international peace and security will require strategic partnerships. In the spirit of promoting such partnerships, the following fundamental principles for action will be crucial. First, there is a need for stronger political commitment and leadership. The issue of political will in combating transnational organized crime has become a sort of cliché, giving the impression that one does not appreciate the commitment of another. That is far from the point. Political commitment and leadership, although very difficult to measure, are crucial for motivating the right actions towards conflict prevention and resolution as well as the maintenance of international peace and security. Secondly, there is a need to establish an effective early warning mechanism for the prevention of conflict and terrorism. ECOWAS has set the pace at the regional level with its numerous initiatives, some of which have early dimensions. Thirdly, building the capacity of States and supporting them in promoting the rule of law, democracy and good governance is essential to the prevention of conflict and the maintenance of international peace and security. Furthermore, the international community must ensure that legitimate structures are in place to promote democracy, good governance and accountability. This brings me to the fourth issue  — that of resources. We cannot achieve the goals of the Security Council without providing for technical assistance to developing countries. Indeed, it has been argued that addressing the specific conditions that give rise to terrorist acts, including poverty, injustice and inequality, can significantly ameliorate the problem. I cannot conclude, therefore, without a clarion call to donor agencies and countries to continue to provide the technical assistance necessary for implementing the Council’s decisions and resolutions. Fifthly, development assistance, although helpful, cannot adequately address the challenges facing developing countries in dealing with transnational security issues. We must therefore ensure that developing countries have equal trading opportunities with others in order to mitigate some of their economic difficulties. Finally, there is the need to improve and sustain cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and international levels, including the involvement of civil society organizations and the private sector. No nation can effectively tackle the problem of terrorism in isolation. Collective security therefore lies in meaningful international cooperation.

I thank Mr. Shehu for his very informative briefing, which clearly emphasizes that the response to terrorism cannot simply be a military one. Various factors must come together in order to end this genuine scourge. I will now make a statement in my capacity as representative of Togo. I would first like to welcome everyone, in particular the ministers who are participating in today’s debate. Their presence reflects the attention that their countries attach to the issue of combating terrorism around the world and, more particularly, in Africa, as well as a demonstration of their determination to eradicate it. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, not only for his statement on the subject under discussion but also for the activities he leads on behalf of our Organization to promote peace, security and stability wherever they are threatened, in Africa in particular. Terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires a global response. It strikes hundreds of innocent people every day and casts a tragic shadow over entire populations. Today its spectre is haunting Africa. The Sahelo-Saharan Strip, which crosses Africa from east to west, is dealing with a mass of security challenges that include growing religious extremism, radical Islamism, terrorism, trafficking of all kinds — including in human beings, drugs and arms — organized crime, and so forth. This is indeed one of the most disturbing threats of our time. Established in Mali, Nigeria, Somalia and other countries, terrorist groups, entrenched in the desert, are becoming more and more active. They sow their seeds in African countries whose low development levels constitute fertile soil for their activities, conducted against a background of tribal conflicts, porous borders and social problems. Terrorism is the result of a confluence of political, security, economic, social and environmental factors interacting with one another. It is tied to poverty, weak governance and corruption, and thus to underdevelopment. It is particularly active in fragile States, countries in post-conflict situations where the absence of the rule of law and an administrative vacuum enable such groups to grow with complete impunity and to extend their influence over a powerless population with no hope for the future. In the areas where it establishes itself it eliminates any possibility of programmes for economic and social development. That situation enables such organizations to take over as de facto authorities that regulate the areas under their control and discourage foreign investment, which leads to the isolation, indeed the economic collapse of the States concerned. Economic activity, both legal commerce and illegal trafficking, and the movement of people, whether migrating native populations, tourist travel or non-governmental personnel, is entirely at their mercy. Thus Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb now rules in the Sahel and has made it a fabulous gold mine for international hostage-taking, trafficking in cigarettes, drugs and arms, and money-laundering. If African Governments are not given the means to conduct an effective and lasting anti-terrorist policy by depriving these groups of their armies, it is alarmingly possible that we could see them consolidating not just a terrorist arc stretching from Mauritania to Nigeria and extending as far as the Horn of Africa, but also developing a lawless area available to traffickers from around the world. For ties are being created between the drug traffickers in the Sahel and European mafias such as Italy’s Camorra and Latin-American groups, which exchange experience and expertise with them. It is clear that terrorism in Africa extends well beyond the African continent. The organized criminal activity there is constantly growing. The ports of West Africa and the Sahel have become hubs for drug trafficking networks, connecting suppliers of cocaine from Latin America and hashish from various African countries with markets in Europe and the Near East. Trafficking in immigrants ranges between 65,000 and 120,000 people a year; trafficking in light weapons is estimated at 8 million items a year, including 100,000 Kalashnikovs. Drugs from the Middle East and Latin America transit through the soft underbelly that is Africa via porous border before reaching Europe. The number of cocaine addicts in West Africa is now estimated at 1.5 million consumers. It is therefore more than urgent that we find ways to curb this new wave of narco-terrorist criminals operating globally. How can we end this rampant scourge? Three avenues should be explored. First, only a multi-pronged response, no longer a strictly military one, as the speakers before me have emphasized, will enable us to contain narco-terrorist criminal groups. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted in 2006 and revisited in 2012, goes in that direction. It is essential to work on security issues together with development problems and issues around the promotion of human rights. It is also necessary to work upstream from terrorism on development, education and health programmes. It is only by ensuring the well-being of citizens and peoples, and of the poorest and weakest in particular, that they will be less receptive to extremist or violent ideologies. Only the promise of development and personal growth can compete with this sordid, murderous alternative. The threat in the Sahel is not only military, Islamist and terrorist. It is also about food. Between the end of 2011 and the middle of 2012 the number of people dealing with food insecurity grew from 13 million to more than 18 million, of whom 8 million are facing a serious food crisis. Population movements inevitably worsen an already precarious situation. Increasing population losses, a lack of water and the loss of revenue are the key ingredients that can transform this humanitarian crisis into a truly political one, leading to renewed violence. In Mali, for example, on the eve of the lean season, the food situation continues to worsen. According to United Nations agencies and specialized non-governmental organizations, one in five households is facing severe malnutrition. A vicious cycle threatens those populations, as they are easy to persuade and thus provide a continuous flow of recruits for terrorist groups seeking new blood. Secondly, given the close links between terrorism and drug traffickers and other trafficking groups, it is essential that we adopt a holistic approach to fight that phenomenon, as these elements are two facets of the same reality. While terrorism seeks to use violence against individuals or property to coerce or to intimidate States and societies in order to achieve political objectives — as is the case in certain countries, for instance Uganda, with the Lord’s Resistance Army — it cannot be treated separately from organized crime, which is ultimately aimed at financial gain. Criminal groups are gradually transformed into hybrid groups, as is the case currently with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. That group, which was based on a political ideology, has over time mutated into a criminal narco-terrorist group. Similarly, the political and social demands made by Ansar Dine are facilitated by the availability of illicit sources of funding and cooperation with other movements, such as Boko Haram and the Mouvement pour l’unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO). According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, 60 per cent of terrorist groups are linked to narcotics trafficking, and 80 per cent of the Taliban are pursuing financial interests and not the desire to impose a religious doctrine. In the Sahel, a third of the jihadists are fighting to defend their ideology, while the remaining two-thirds pursue social or financial interests. The response to these new forms of crime must be international. The international community needs to develop, in consultation with the countries concerned, a global strategy embodied in a number of long- term policy, diplomatic, socioeconomic and security initiatives. Such a strategy should seek to assist in improved governance, which should involve effective justice and the willingness to issue arrest warrants against those responsible for abuses. It should enhance the fight against youth unemployment, as highlighted by the Secretary-General and the Director General of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa. It should seek better control over conventional arms transfers to the continent’s interior. Since the Arab spring, there has been a proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The transparency of any arms deal should be confirmed by a designated African authority. The strategy should also seek to achieve better border control. Following the conflict in Mali, new transit routes for cocaine have already opened up in some countries of Central Africa, according to the French criminologist Xavier Raufer. The strategy must focus on the regional approach to mitigate the risk of terrorist migration, in particular in Mali because of Operation Serval. We must be aware that the war in Mali is not without consequences, and several West African capitals have been cited by the MUJAO as potential targets for attacks. The strategy must further seek the greater involvement of the African continent in the international debate on terrorism and the global management of that scourge, as well as closer coordination between the African countries and between Africa and its international partners. The strategy must support the ownership of African countries and regional organizations in the fight against terrorism within their territory. In that respect, I commend the outstanding work by the African Union, which took a number of steps in the right direction at its ministerial meeting on 17 March, such as the strengthening of border security, exchanges of information and national capacity- building through experience sharing, training and equipment. Thirdly, to implement those measures, it is urgent that the partner countries honour their commitments with respect to official development assistance. According to the most recent report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for 2012, official development assistance fell by 4 per cent in real terms between 2011 and 2012, after having fallen by 2 per cent in 2011. Total global official development assistance amounted to $125 billion in 2012, representing 0.29 per cent of the combined national wealth of the various donors, as compared to 0.31 per cent in 2011. That does not seem fair to me, since we know that poor countries are facing new challenges for which they are not necessarily responsible and which are clearly the result of the furious pace of industrialization by wealthy countries. I am thinking in particular of the devastating effects of climate change on our countries. Nevertheless, I would like to thank Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden for having met and sometimes even exceeded their official development assistance commitments. The figures are sufficiently clear and speak for themselves. The challenges are immense and the financial needs considerable. As President Bouteflika said way back in 2002, the fight against poverty is perhaps the first essential element in the fight against terrorism, since while poverty is humanly and morally unacceptable, it also destroys human virtues and the bases of social solidarity. While I urgently appeal to all of our partner countries to make an effort in terms of official development assistance. However, we must also find other sources of funding. I am thinking in particular of the tax on international financial transactions. Its basic purpose was not to bridge the gaps created by banks in the partner countries but to uncover new resources for official development assistance. Eleven members of the European Union agreed to launch a tax on the Community’s international financial transactions through strengthened cooperation, starting in February 2013. I welcome that measure, which will free up large amounts of funding, some of which, I hope, will be devoted to international aid. I would like to thank the President of the French Republic, who has committed here at the United Nations to devote 10 per cent of such assistance to development and the fight against health issues and pandemics. Only subregional and international cooperation will allow us to fight criminal drug trafficking groups. Without the support of the international community, the African continent will not know how to defeat that scourge, which infects States, corrupts Governments and literally transforms people into the slaves of the twenty-first century. Only global governance — a world Government, as Jacques Attali of France says — developing effective policies would counterbalance the growing crime that all governments face. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. The Council has before it the text of a statement by the President on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting. I thank Council members for their valuable contributions to this statement. In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2013/5. It is so decided. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Council.

I would like to thank you personally, Mr. President, and your country, Togo, for having organized under your presidency today’s important debate on the challenges of the fight against terrorism in Africa in the context of maintaining international peace and security. I firmly believe that your statement is an important contribution, with respect both to its analytical portion and the ways to confront the scourge of terrorism that you have set out here. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and the Director General of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa for their enlightening briefings. Today’s debate is timely. We are indeed concerned in two regards — first, because terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and, secondly, because terrorism has become, evermore markedly in recent years, a threat to peace and stability in a number of regions on the African continent. The crisis in Mali and its ramifications throughout the Sahel and beyond illustrate in many ways the evermore complex challenges that the United Nations and its States Members have to face. The situation challenges all of us and makes us realize that the fight against terrorism is a long-term fight that will require the mobilization of considerable means, in terms of both security and development cooperation. The implementation of a global strategy is a necessity. At the level of the United Nations, the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy has expanded the framework of the fight against terrorism. Besides repressive and security measures, it comprises measures to ensure respect for international law, notably humanitarian law and human rights, as well as measures to avoid the creation of fertile ground for the propagation of terrorist ideology. The Strategy has the merit of combining security, rule of law, socioeconomic development, and protection and promotion of human rights aspects. It is now critical to comprehensively implement it at the regional level in Africa. To counter the threat of Al-Qaida and its affiliates in West Africa, in particular in the Sahel region, the Security Council has adapted its response by sharpening the tools at its disposal, in particular sanctions, through the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011). After the listing of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in 2001, we welcome the extension of the Al-Qaida sanctions to the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa in 2012 and to Ansar Dine in 2013. We also have great expectations for the cooperation between the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, established by resolution 2100 (2013) on 25 April. Given the vast scale of the terrorist threat, we must support African countries in strengthening their capacities. In that regard, we welcome the special meeting being organized this year by the Counter- Terrorism Committee under the chairmanship of Morocco on cooperation and technical assistance to States in the Sahel region, so as to strengthen their capacities in the fight against terrorism. In its national capacity, Luxembourg is working to contribute to African capacity-building in the fight against the financing of terrorism. We have therefore supported training implemented by the National Financial Intelligence Processing Unit in Senegal. In the Sahel region, terrorism is a transnational phenomenon. It has been able to grow stronger through alliances with criminal networks in the region that are prospering thanks to the money made from human trafficking and the illicit trade in arms and drugs, as the President mentioned. That transnational threat requires a coordinated response at the international, regional and national levels. It is therefore important to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations and to make effective use of the mechanisms developed by African regional and subregional organizations. To strengthen that cooperation, it is essential to establish regional strategies. Given the situation on the ground, Luxembourg believes it is more urgent than ever to finalize and implement the United Nations integrated regional strategy on the Sahel, which encompasses security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian issues. In July 2012, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to develop and implement that strategy in consultation with regional organizations. It should provide the Security Council and stakeholders in the region with a full array of tools for preventive action, including in the field of counter- terrorism. It must be finalized as soon as possible. The terrorist threat cannot be eradicated by military means. It is therefore important to reinforce the civilian security dimension and better equip law enforcement agencies and justice institutions in dealing with terrorism. In parallel, it is necessary to work resolutely for socioeconomic development in order to remove the sources of frustration and exclusion that feed terrorism and its recruiting agents. For two decades, Luxembourg has been developing a cooperation partnership with a number of countries in the West Africa region, in particular, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger. In the context of that partnership, we are pursuing an integrated regional approach, which we hope will contribute to tackling the fundamental causes of conflicts and the roots of terrorism by focusing on the fight against poverty and on access to basic services, while striving to give hope to the younger generations by enabling them to find decent jobs. The Horn of Africa is another region where we are seeking to contribute to the efforts to fight terrorism. Last week, I participated in the London Conference on Somalia, which is a country that has made considerable progress during the past year, but remains confronted by the formidable terrorist threat of Al-Shabaab. We are encouraged by the efforts undertaken and the results achieved in State-building and in the political process in Somalia. The security situation is improving, but the Somali authorities require our support in order to build and strengthen their State institutions in that field. To that end, Luxembourg took the opportunity of the London Conference to announce a new financial contribution of €500,000 for security sector reform in Somalia. My country’s commitment to Africa reflects our conviction that it is necessary to adopt a holistic approach that recognizes the intrinsic link between security and development, two objectives that can only be achieved through the respect for and protection of human rights and the rule of law, to echo a great African, Mr. Kofi Annan. The presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/5) prepared for today’s debate reflects the need to adopt such an integrated approach in the fight against terrorism on the African continent. For that reason, Luxembourg fully supports it. May today’s debate inspire us all to break the momentum of terrorism in Africa once and for all.

I am of course in agreement with the analysis of the question just presented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg. I think we need a comprehensive approach, as he said. I would especially like to welcome his role in combating poverty through the actions that he indicated and encourage him to pursue that effort because the road is still long.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate the President on his sisterly country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I also wish to thank him for choosing an important subject, namely, combating terrorism in Africa in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security, as the central topic of Togo’s presidency. By the same token, I should like to thank His Excellency the Secretary-General for his statement and to commend his ongoing commitment to fostering international and regional cooperation with a view to averting and combating security threats. Our meeting today is being held at a delicate juncture, as the international community is preoccupied by the political transformations and security challenges witnessed by Africa. In addition to the consequences of those challenges at the local, regional and international levels, the recent developments and frequent incidents on that continent indicate that, despite the efforts made, those threats continue to loom over regional and international peace and security, leading to the suffering of millions of innocent civilians. Related alarming phenomena include the growing interconnection among terrorist groups, secessionist movements and criminal networks involved in the trafficking in persons, drugs and weapons, as well as in piracy and abduction. That interconnection has enabled terrorist networks to acquire the financial and technological resources necessary to bolster their capacities and threaten, in some cases, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, particularly in certain regions that face internal conflicts and socio-political difficulties. Morocco is in the forefront of those States that have for years expressed their deep concern at the terrorist activities and security threats in certain parts of our continent, particularly in the Sahel region, West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and the Horn of Africa. The Security Council’s response and those of regional organizations have had encouraging outcomes, and collective efforts have led to the dismantling of a number of criminal and terrorist networks. Yet, those efforts remain insufficient and must be harmonized and coordinated, as those networks continue to expand to additional areas of our continent, adopting new methods and sophisticated techniques, particularly following the proliferation of weapons by the defunct Al-Qadhafi regime. The ceaseless efforts deployed by the United Nations have been positive insofar as they have supported the African States in their combat against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in addition to promoting peace and security on the continent and strengthening the capacities of States in the field of technical assistance so as to face this looming threat. We look forward to the adoption of the United Nations Integrated Strategy on the Sahel and express our readiness to contribute effectively to its implementation and success. Morocco has taken a firm stance against terrorism. It has adopted a national strategy in that respect that converges with the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. The Kingdom’s strategy reflects its commitment to the values of coexistence, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. I should like to take this opportunity to reiterate once again Morocco’s categorical rejection of any connection between organized crime or terrorism with any religion, faith or ethnic group. Those phenomena by nature constitute a rejection of all religious, ethical and human values. We reiterate our support for all of the initiatives designed to foster dialogue and understanding among civilizations and cultures, respecting the characteristics of each one, as a positive response to attempts to fuel radicalization, hatred, exclusion and racism. In that connection, we believe that the considerable success of the Moroccan counter-terrorism strategy is the result of its multidimensional and comprehensive approach, which includes preventive law-enforcement measures as well as its national initiatives that address the socioeconomic and cultural imbalances at the root of violent and extremist ideologies. The Kingdom will continue with that series of democratic reforms, with a focus on development in all its forms as a protection against the increase in violent ideologies and terrorism. Morocco joined the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, whose five task forces have adopted multilateral mechanisms for joint action. In that respect, we appreciate the adoption of the Rabat Declaration on best practices in the field of criminal justice, which will promote the establishment of criminal justice mechanisms based on the rule of law and guarantee cooperation with regard to surrendering criminals and extending mutual legal assistance. Morocco, as usual, stands ready to share its national expertise and experience with African States in the framework of a positive partnership aimed at facing the prevailing security threats. Along with our commitment to enhancing security in Africa, for decades we have engaged in cooperation efforts with other African States to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime. We have taken many initiatives aimed at paving the way for cooperation and dialogue, including the Ministerial Conference of African-Atlantic States and the convening of the Conference of the Ministers of Justice of Francophone African Countries to combat terrorism. At the humanitarian level, the initiatives taken by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco to increase the level of humanitarian assistance for refugees in the Sahelo-Sahara region, Malian refugees in neighbouring States and internally displaced persons in Mali are grounded in ethical values and are humanitarian endeavours aimed at alleviating their suffering and preventing their children from falling victim to criminality and terrorism. Morocco has strengthened its cooperation with the Sahelo-Sahara States as well as of those the Maghreb Union, in the context of a decisive and participatory approach that is based on respect for the sovereignty of States and their territorial integrity, the principle of solidarity, the value of positive dialogue and the principle of the responsibility of all States. In that connection, in cooperation with the United Nations, in March 2013 Morocco convened an international conference that brought together the Maghreb and Sahel States on cooperation in the field of border monitoring. Participants emphasized the need for active cooperation among United Nations, regional and subregional organizations on information exchange, expertise, best practices and training. As Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (CTC), Morocco has conscientiously fostered the efforts of United Nations organs to counter terrorism, with a view to establishing coordinated and complementary regional and national counter-terrorism strategies. In that connection, we are extending further technical assistance to African States in legal affairs, capacity- building and information exchange. In the views of experts, all these areas represent basic priorities in the fight against the scourge. From the African perspective, we express our gratitude to the CTC members for adopting our proposal to organize a meeting in the final quarter of the year on strengthening the counter-terrorism capacities of the Sahel States. In implementation of its full obligation to back international counter-terrorism efforts, Morocco will spare no effort in building a genuine partnership among African States with a view to fostering regional cooperation in complement to international efforts to combat security threats. We are of the view that adopting appropriate integrated national strategies and guaranteeing their effectiveness will require seamless and regular regional and subregional cooperation in order to pave the way for a cooperative framework aimed at protecting peoples and homelands against security threats, particularly terrorism.

I would like to thank His Majesty Mohammed VI and the Government of Morocco for their effective response strategy. We recall the attacks that we have all condemned, but I do believe that the strategy has been implemented and measures have been taken since then. For now, we can affirm that terrorism has been vanquished in that area. We also appreciate Morocco’s willingness to cooperate with other States and to share its experience in order to enable them to combat terrorism.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s important meeting. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and Mr. Shehu for their briefings. Although we are focusing today on terrorism in Africa, we recall the victims of terrorist attacks everywhere, as well as their families. From Karachi to Kano, Mogadishu to Benghazi and In Aminas, and from Baghdad to Boston, the thousands of lives lost and shattered remind us, tragically, that the scourge of terrorism affects us all and that combating it requires our shared determination and common efforts. Terrorist groups continue to threaten peace, security and stability across Africa. In the Sahel, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) joined with mercenary fighters fleeing Libya to exploit the Tuareg rebellion and overrun the northern two-thirds of Mali. In Nigeria, Boko Haram and Ansaru are taking advantage of poor socioeconomic conditions and popular discontent to challenge State authorities and sow communal conflict. In Somalia, Al-Shabaab is still launching ferocious attacks on the Somali Government and people as it seeks to derail the country’s transition. As we saw just eight days ago in Arusha, Tanzania, terrorism is not confined to conflict zones, but can happen anywhere and at any time. Nevertheless, the fight against terrorism in Africa has made progress over the past year. Somalia and Mali show how international and regional cooperation in action can help to weaken terrorist groups that pose grave threats to entire nations. In those cases, African nations, with critical support from the international community, have actively confronted terrorist threats. Working together, French, Chadian and Malian forces have taken on a growing terrorist haven in Mali. The Council imposed United Nations sanctions against the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, Ansar Dine and associated individuals in Mali, and authorized two successive missions to help stabilize the country. At the same time, the persistence and sacrifice of African Union peacekeepers, with international assistance, has helped Somalia start to reclaim its country from the brutal grip of Al-Shabaab. Yet, Al-Qaida and affiliated groups remain dangerous, and are becoming more diffuse and entrepreneurial. With fragile new Governments in North Africa and unrest elsewhere on the continent, violent extremists have increasingly exploited porous borders, political vacuums, local grievances, socioeconomic stresses and diminished focus on counter-terrorism to pursue their deadly objectives. Meanwhile, terrorists in Africa continue to fund their operations through illicit activities, while their tactics become more sophisticated. Transnational terrorists are trafficking weapons, drugs and even human beings to raise money for heinous attacks. We remain deeply concerned that AQIM and related groups are using kidnapping for ransom to finance terrorism. The international community cannot turn a blind eye to that crime and must stop paying ransoms. Furthermore, terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is on the rise in Africa, as Al-Shabaab’s recent car-bombing of Somali Government and Qatari aid delegation members demonstrates. That troubling trend warrants increased Security Council attention, and we welcome opportunities to develop counter-IED initiatives with African and other partners. The multifaceted threat of terrorism in Africa requires a multidimensional response. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy recognizes as much. A comprehensive approach not only involves tactical efforts and capacity-building to thwart attacks and degrade terrorist infrastructure, but also features strategic initiatives to reduce violent extremism and shrink the pipeline of terrorists. The United States has therefore intensified capacity-building assistance to African partners. Our Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership and our Partnership for Regional East African Counter Terrorism programmes help African States to tighten border security, promote economic development, disrupt terrorist networks, prevent attacks and prosecute perpetrators. Over the past year, the United States has trained over 2,320 officials in 18 African countries, conducting law enforcement and rule of law activities. United States legal attachés and advisers are working with host country Governments in Mauritania, the Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Algeria to strengthen justice-sector capacity to address terrorism. In addition, to counter violent extremist propaganda online, the United States has established the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, which has supported citizen journalists in disseminating accurate, non-extremist information across northern Mali, and has funded projects in Nigeria and the Niger to highlight local stories of resilience in the face of terrorism. We furthermore welcome the contributions that the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, in partnership with the United Nations and the African Union, has made in addressing terrorism across the continent. The good practices memorandums of the Global Counter- Terrorism Forum on criminal justice, the rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists and the prevention of kidnapping for ransom by terrorists are practical tools for Governments to use in combatting terrorism within a rule-of-law framework. However, such guides are only as useful as the political will and capacity to implement them. Building States’ capacity to fight terrorists and enlisting communities in that fight remain indispensable, but we must be wary of repressive approaches, which often fuel the very radicalization that they seek to eliminate. Indeed, reducing the threat of terrorism in Africa demands a broader effort to create freer, more prosperous and tolerant societies in which radicalization is rare, opportunity is palpable and hope thrives. That requires fighting poverty and corruption. It requires expanding trade and investment and building critical infrastructure, so that African economies can grow sustainably. It requires effective conflict prevention and resolution. It requires improving Governments’ delivery of services to their peoples, from high-quality education to health care and justice, and it requires ensuring that people are able to hold their Governments accountable. Through that framework and in partnership with the peoples and Governments of the continent, the United States is working to empower citizens, promote good governance, strengthen human rights and the rule of law and boost economic growth and development. In doing so, we remain mindful that no one nation can fight terrorism alone. We must work together as partners with shared commitment and mutual assistance to end that scourge. We owe nothing less to the legions of victims and to future generations.

At the outset, allow me to thank His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, for his personal attendance at this Security Council debate on counter-terrorism in Africa in the context of peacebuilding and international security. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his attendance and Mr. Abdullahi Shehu, Director General of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, for his briefing. Before I begin, I would like to condemn on behalf of my Government the terrorist attack that took place on Saturday in Reyhanli in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border, which cost the lives of at least 43 people and wounded 100. I offer the condolences of the Rwandan Government to the victims’ families and to the Government and people of Turkey. We hope that justice will be done, and we express our deep concern with regard to the information that the attack might be linked to the Syrian crisis. Rwanda concurs with the presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/5) that was just adopted. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. President, for choosing the topic for today’s meeting and statement, which shows Togo’s commitment to peace and security on our continent. The theme chosen for the second Togolese presidency of the Security Council of your term is right in line with the theme chosen for Togo’s first presidency in February 2012, “The impact of transnational organized crime on peace, security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel region”. Rwanda, a brotherly country of Togo, fully shares the concern for peace and security in Africa. That is why our country chose, for our presidency in April, to organize a briefing on the prevention of conflicts in Africa so as to tackle the root causes (see S/PV.6946). We would like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Togo for his attendance at the time. In fact, Africa will not be able to sustainably fight transnational crime and terrorism until the continent adopts an effective strategy to prevent conflicts in Africa by tackling their root causes. The issue of terrorism, especially in Africa, is extremely complicated. It is true that terrorism and conflicts in Africa generally have the same underlying causes, but terrorism can also be both the cause and the effect of conflicts on the continent, as those conflicts can be fed by terrorism or can lead to terrorism. In fact, most of the underlying causes of conflict in Africa, considered by members of the Council during the April briefing, are also the causes of terrorism. I would note, in particular, the artificial delineation of borders, which is a legacy of colonialism and has engendered identity and nationality problems, porous borders, foreign interference, the lack of democracy and rule of law, corruption and poor governance, poverty and famine, as well as exclusion and discrimination based on race, ethnic group, religion and region of origin. In addition to the fact that terrorism and conflict in Africa share the same deep-rooted causes, it is important to note that terrorism and conflict can also be the cause and effect of each other. In fact, it is quite obvious that conflicts in Africa can be a breeding ground for terrorism, which, as we all know, can only sustain itself and develop in conditions of chaos or in lawless areas. And it is no coincidence that terrorist groups regularly attack Blue Helmets and threaten troop-contributing countries. Along those lines, terrorism can also be a cause of conflict. In fact, repeated terrorist acts against religious, ethnic or racial communities is a source of exasperation, which can lead to intercommunity fighting. It is therefore very obvious that terrorism, which always goes hand in hand with all types of trafficking and transnational crime, should be a central concern in all thinking about conflict prevention in Africa. Although terrorism can find its root causes in our society, there can be no excuses or justification based on extenuating circumstances for the perpetration of such acts. Poverty, unemployment, exclusion and the corruption of some Governments do not necessarily lead to terrorism, in the sense that most of the victims of those scourges struggle peacefully as citizens every day to achieve a better future. We need to tackle the underlying causes of terrorism by tackling those who decide to cross the Rubicon by breaking up families and terrorizing communities. In that connection, Rwanda wishes to recall the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We commend the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, as well as the other committees established to fight terrorism, for their activities. We encourage them to strengthen their cooperation, in particular through the exchange of information on best practices, in order to ensure better coordination of international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism. Rwanda also supports United Nations cooperation with regional organizations and subregional organizations. We welcome the work that has been done by the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, the objective of which is to strengthen the cooperation between African countries in the prevention of terrorism. In that regard, we also reaffirm that we are eagerly awaiting the launch of the integrated strategy on the Sahel, which we hope will help countries in the region to prevent and combat terrorism. Rwanda reiterates its condemnation of Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, the Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and all other terrorist organizations operating on the African continent. However, in referencing the presidential statement that has just been adopted, Rwanda reaffirms that terrorism cannot and must not be associated with any one religion, nationality or civilization. We also regret the fact that the word “terrorism” is often used in conjunction with movements that have a particular affiliation and use their own particular methods. We recall that the definition of terrorism is not limited to the use of explosives; it also extends to armed groups that commit mass atrocities, practice abduction, burn villages, and use rape as a weapon of war and terror. In that respect, I note that a genocidal group in Rwanda, the Armée pour la libération du Rwanda, was designated as a terrorist group before it changed its name, 12 years ago, to Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda. We call on the brotherly Congolese Government, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the entire international community to redouble their efforts against that genocidal terrorist group, which is the main source of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In conclusion, Sir, I again commend your personal commitment to fighting terrorism in Africa and the world. I pay a special tribute to all citizens and civil society organizations that fight terrorism every day around the world, at the risk of their lives or the lives of their members. We have an obligation to achieve results, and we hope that our collective efforts in the Security Council and elsewhere will ultimately rekindle hope for Africa and all communities living under the threat of terrorism.

I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to you, Sir, for convening today’s timely debate on the challenges faced in the fight against terrorism in Africa. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his comprehensive briefing, and Mr. Abdullahi Shehu of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) for his informative briefing. Despite the concerted efforts of the international community over the past decade, terrorism remains a serious threat to peace and security in the Maghreb and the Sahel. If unchecked, the formation of the so- called arc of instability from Mali to Somalia may soon become irreversible, and transform the entire African continent into a breeding ground for extremists and a launchpad for larger-scale terrorist attacks around the world. The Republic of Korea believes that efforts to prevent and combat terrorism will become much more effective with the adoption of a comprehensive approach. In this regard, we support the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which focuses on addressing each component of terrorism: terrorists, weapons, funding and networks. The natural starting point is to tackle socioeconomic and environmental conditions, with a focus on youth and education. In this context, the Republic of Korea strongly supports the Secretary-General’s global Education First Initiative. Human rights and the rule of law should be at the heart of global efforts to address the issue of terrorism. Defending porous borders to deter the illicit flows of weapons in Africa is another important task, as is the prevention and interdiction of terrorist financing. In collaborating with the Financial Action Task Force, the role of GIABA is crucial in fostering closer military and intelligence cooperation among the countries of the region. These efforts require full ownership of the countries concerned in establishing good governance and promoting economic reforms, while designing and implementing a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy. In this regard, the Republic of Korea commends the work done by the African Union in adopting its Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism of 1999, establishing the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism based on its 2002 Plan of Action, and appointing its Special Representative for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation in October 2010. Keenly mindful of such developments, the Republic of Korea has been actively participating in global efforts to prevent and combat terrorism in Africa. First, Korea is playing an active role in addressing the origins of terrorism, and seeks the socioeconomic development of its African partners through a variety of cooperative programmes. My Government has formulated an Action Plan for the Third Korea-Africa Forum for 2013-2015, which includes a whole range of assistance including human resource development. Secondly, preventing the use of weapons of mass destruction for terrorism is another important task for the international community. As the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), the Republic of Korea will seek ways to mobilize relevant international assistance for African States within the Committee’s mandate. We will also work together with the other counter-terrorism committees  — namely, the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and the Counter-Terrorism Committee  — to develop assistance packages to bolster African efforts to curb terrorism. Thirdly, adapting to the terrorist threat in the digital age is essential. Taking advantage of the high connectivity made available by information technology, home-grown terrorists are learning to make bombs through the Internet and high-profile terrorists are recruiting members on Twitter. As the host of the Seoul Conference on Cyberspace 2013, which is to be held on 17 and 18 October, the Republic of Korea will scale up its efforts to address the new trend of exploiting information technology to incite, recruit, and finance terrorist activities and spread extremism. As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed, terrorism has no nationality or religious affiliation and respects no borders. Our response, too, should reflect the amorphous and ubiquitous nature of terrorism today. As a Security Council member, the Republic of Korea will play its due part in promoting the Council’s work to combat terrorism in Africa and beyond.

It is an honour and a privilege to have the President of the Republic of Togo guiding this debate. Your participation, Sir, and that of the Vice-Prime Minister of Luxembourg, several Ministers for Foreign Affairs, the representatives of Council members, and Mr. Abdullahi Shehu of the Integovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa attest to the importance and timeliness of the proposed topic. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his participation and informative briefing. As we recognize in the presidential statement that we have just adopted (S/PRST/2013/5), terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to peace and security, the enjoyment of human rights, and the social and economic development of States. In the case of Africa in particular, terrorism undermines its stability and prosperity. This threat has become more diffuse and developed increasingly complex operational mechanisms in response to the growing vigilance of the international community. Acts of terrorism, including those motivated by intolerance and extremism of all stripes, are on the rise. Argentina condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. At the same time, we are convinced that the general framework in which we seek any response to that situation must always include absolute respect for international law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law and be within the purposes and aims enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The tragic Argentinian experience with State terrorism, which gave rise to massive and systematic human rights violations, has led us to develop State policies with regard to various aspects of human rights, in particular those related to memory, truth, justice and reparations, as well as to the gradual development of the right to truth. Furthermore, Argentina has suffered directly from international terrorism, having been the victim of two very serious terrorists attacks in the city of Buenos Aires, one in 1992 against the Israeli Embassy and the other in 1994 against the headquarters of the Argentinian Israelite Mutual Association. That experience has reaffirmed our conviction that terrorism must be fought within the framework of the rule of law and with total respect for fundamental freedoms. We have no doubts in that regard, and that is why we firmly reject the idea that human rights violations are acceptable in certain circumstances. Our country, in its fight against illicit trafficking and human trafficking and in the field of migration, has legislation and policies that do not criminalize or discriminate for any reason against immigrants. We recognize that migration is a human right. That still means that we must have an effective policy at the border so as to control illicit trafficking in drugs and weapons. We have made progress in establishing solid normative frameworks and public policies, which have led to certain achievements. We have also developed regional strategies at the level of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) and the Union of South American Nations, because we understand that the efforts of national States are essential. The commitment of the region and of the international community is also crucial. Terrorism cannot be dissociated from the growing complexity of the international reality, and that is why it is crucial that its complexity be approached within the framework of a comprehensive multilateral effort based on coordination and cooperation between States in order to effectively prevent and combat the scourge. The fight against terrorism requires, first of all, a firm commitment on the part of every State to combat terrorist acts at the national level, to not provide assistance to the perpetrators of or participants in activities related to terrorism, and to strengthen national legislation that promotes the prosecution or extradition of terrorists. In addition, at the global level within the framework of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, a comprehensive approach to the matter would strengthen joint efforts, with regard to the conditions that lead to the spread of terrorism and its financing. Terrorist acts cannot be justified by religious or ethnic differences, nor by economic circumstances. Nonetheless, tolerance and the operation of the rule of law with full social inclusion and dignified work provide an environment that would help prevent the spread of terrorism and help us to combat it. Behind every terrorist act there is usually a problem of cultural, political, social, ethnic or religious marginalization, often with a fundamentalist component, the growth of which over time offers fertile ground for the development of terrorism. Furthermore, in the case of Africa, as we see in the presidential statement adopted today(S/PRST/2013/5), terrorism endangers the efforts of African States to promote economic and social development. The countries of the region need to dedicate resources to development without being forced to divert them to the fight against terrorism. In that regard, the situation in the Sahel region is very telling. On the one hand, in order to have development, we need to have basic security and stability without the threat of terrorism. At the same time, however, in order to achieve minimum stability, we need a comprehensive and integrated approach. In that regard, I welcome the comments made by the Secretary-General, who referred to the need to have a comprehensive United Nations strategy for the Sahel region that would encompass security, governance, development and respect for human rights, as well as humanitarian issues. We need coordinated action between States in the region, which would make it possible to tackle the activities of terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, and Ansar Dine, and to fight illicit drug trafficking as well as trafficking in small arms and light weapons. The extensive land and sea borders are a particular challenge for us in fighting against the activities of such groups, which highlights the need for support from the international community for national capacity-building. There is also great concern over the repeated attacks that have taken place in some African countries, including those that have targeted United Nations offices, such as the August 2011 against the United Nations Office in Abuja. In particular, when it comes to the trafficking in small arms and light weapons, we understand that the Arms Trade Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly on 2 April, could make an important contribution to preventing the diversion of weapons towards such terrorist groups. In Africa, as in many other regions of the world, the fight against terrorism requires structural changes that would bring an end to poverty, exclusion and marginalization, factors that are conducive to the development of terrorism. We need cooperation and coordination from the international community in order to tackle the problem. We also need a global economic system that is based on equity, which would provide responses to many of the deep-rooted causes of the scourge. Likewise, as we also see in the presidential statement, the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism must be complemented by efforts at the regional and subregional levels, as well as those of specialized agencies, to promote cooperation in matters of global interest. Every region and subregion has its particularities, and, as in many other issues, when it comes to terrorism, subregional and regional cooperation is a crucial element in providing a comprehensive and broad response to that scourge. In the case of our region, through the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, we have developed several programmes to exchange information and best practices in the area. Likewise, in MERCOSUR, through a specialized counter-terrorism forum, information is exchanged on legislation, control measures and the harmonization of standards so as to enable better coordination in the countries of the subregion. In the African continent, Argentina supports the steps taken by African countries at the national and regional levels to combat terrorism. In that regard, we reaffirm the need to work jointly with the African Union to implement cooperation. Within a broader framework, but still closely related to the situation in the African continent, we believe that peacekeeping operations are not an effective tool in the fight against terrorism. The use of force in an offensive fashion would go against the three essential principles of peacekeeping, namely, the consent of the parties, impartiality and the use of force only in self-defence or for the purposes of the mandate. Furthermore, we understand that allowing peacekeeping operations to use force offensively with a view to combatting the actions of terrorist elements could transform the United Nations into a participant in an asymmetrical internal conflict, undermining the Organization’s legitimacy and endangering its personnel working on humanitarian issues, in development and in human rights protection. In any case, the inclusion of the peacemaking dimension in peacekeeping operations requires thorough discussion and responsibility. For Argentina, it is clear that the issue requires a comprehensive debate, where all of the Members of the United Nations would participate and where we could assess the elements that the Organization would need in order to tackle such situations. Within the framework of the Council, African issues are the ones that take up most of our analysis and discussion. Generally speaking, we tend to focus on conflict situations and other aspects that are not so positive. Nevertheless, Argentina is convinced that much progress has been achieved by African States, the African Union and other subregional organizations in conflict-prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Africa has also made progress when it comes to promoting and protecting human rights, in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the constitutional order. Argentina strongly supports this process, and we offer all of our experience of recent years and our cooperation in combating this scourge. In the same sense, we believe it important to identify the prevailing challenges facing Africa in the fight against terrorism. At the same time, we recognize the broad progress that has been made, including the large number of ratifications of international counter- terrorism instruments, the adoption of legislation on terrorist financing, the progress made on border control, the increased cooperation and coordination among the States in the region, and progress in upholding human rights in the fight against terrorism. Important progress has been made, but there are still a number of challenges in the fight ahead, both in Africa and at the international level. Solidarity and cooperation in the context of full respect for the sovereignty of States remain our best tools.

Let me thank the Togolese presidency for its initiative to hold today’s meeting on such a relevant topic. We view this meeting as a contribution to strengthening the central coordinating role of the United Nations and the Security Council in the fight against terrorism. We are grateful to the Secretary- General for his participation in the meeting and for his briefing on today’s topic. We would also like to thank the Director General of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa for the information he provided. In spite of the significant efforts of the international community, terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Unfortunately, today Africa has come to be at the forefront of the fight against this scourge. Regional extremist groups have joined forces among themselves with criminal elements, circulating freely through porous borders, updating their sources of financing, and vigorously arming themselves with regional weapons flows from Libyan arsenals. We have warned of such dangers on many occasions. It was to put up reliable roadblocks to stop the spread of Libyan weapons, including man-portable air defence systems, that Russia initiated resolution 2017 (2011). Substantial finances flow to terrorists from the illicit drug trade. One of the major staging grounds for the smuggling of cocaine into Europe is West Africa. The region is setting up production of synthetic narcotics, and developing existing and new routes for the delivery of Afghan heroin. One result of this process is the broadening of the geography of terrorist activity, with an increased number of terrorist attacks and ever great proliferation of organized crime. Extremists are increasingly attempting to capture positions of Government authority. We are especially troubled by the tendency to weave terrorism into regional armed conflicts, which directly threatens the territorial integrity of States and undermines the foundation of international peace and security. One illustration of this is the ongoing instability in Mali and throughout the Sahel region. We welcome the adoption of resolution 2100 (2013), which confirms that the international community is working together to find a solution to this problem. Against this backdrop, we cannot but regret that the Council has yet to identify a solid position regarding the condemnation of terrorist attacks and threats in the context of Syrian events, especially bearing in mind the growing influence among the ranks of the opposition of terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida. African countries are adopting more active initiatives to solve the continent’s problems. In that regard, we welcome partnerships between the United Nations and the African Union and other regional organizations in maintaining peace and stability in Africa. Nevertheless, in the prevailing conditions, the assistance of the entire international community in building the capacities of the security forces of African States is essential. Broad and comprehensive measures must be implemented, with a focus on strengthening border and airport security, broadening the exchange of information, and training law enforcement officers. We note the key role of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the Secretariat focal point on the implementation of the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in providing technical assistance to the States in Africa. We welcome the regional initiatives of those agencies. In strengthening the capabilities of African States, Russia is focusing above all on providing humanitarian assistance through United Nations channels and, bilaterally, in providing assistance to countries of the region trough training of professional staff, including in law enforcement services. We believe that in the long term, more attention must be paid to the deradicalization of populations, especially young people. We must focus on solving the problems of employment and education. Maintaining our effectiveness remains a challenge, and we must strengthen it in countering extremist tendencies, which are the ideological basis and a breeding ground for terrorist groups in the region. It is vital to increase efforts to establish an environment that rejects the ideology of violence. We should use the media and civil society to that end. We must nip in the bud all attempts to involve regional diasporas in terrorist activity. We believe it important to further activate provision under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, encouraging regional and subregional organizations to take proactive steps in preventive diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes. We hope that the concerns we have heard today will be taken into due consideration by the Secretary-General in the preparation for the Council on possible further steps in this area. We believe that their implementation will become an important component of global efforts of the international community to withstand the threat of terrorism, and will help ensure the security and stable development of African countries.

At the outset, I would like to express our gratitude to you, Sir, for convening and presiding and over this important meeting to discuss the existing challenges of the fight against terrorism in Africa. During its term in the Council, Togo has been a vocal proponent of the goal of advancing peace and security in the region and globally. Your presence today demonstrates your country’s strong commitment to finding solutions to the problems facing the African continent. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and Mr. Abdullahi Shehu for their insightful briefings and interventions. I welcome the adoption of presidential statement S/PRST/2013/5 as the outcome of today’s debate. Terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, as well as to the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social and economic development of all States. With its constantly changing nature and character, terrorism continues to challenge the well-being of our societies, claim the lives of innocent people, and undermine internal security and stability. No country or region is immune from this scourge. Azerbaijan is an active contributor to global counter-terrorism activities. The fight against terrorism in the light of the current security developments in some African countries was one of the widely discussed topics at the International Conference on Strengthening Cooperation in Preventing Terrorism, co-organized by Azerbaijan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in Baku on 18 and 19 March. Terrorism in Africa has its own distinctive character, patterns and more diverse and complex route causes compared to other regions of the world. A number of subregions of the continent suffer from perennial political, security, socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges. Instability, underdevelopment, intercommunal tensions, poverty, lack of viable State institutions and porous borders create conditions favourable to the infiltration of armed groups and terrorist and criminal networks, the in-flow of weaponry into the region and an upsurge in radical separatist activities. In terms of addressing those root causes, Africa as a whole has made significant progress, and many African States have made serious strides towards political stability, democratization and sustainable economic and social development. Remarkable efforts have been displayed by the African Union, as a leading regional player, and by subregional organizations in Africa, in collectively promoting peace, security and stability on the continent. However, as can be judged from the dynamic of the African issues on the Security Council’s agenda, that goal is yet to be achieved. A comprehensive and integrated response and consistent engagement on the part of international, regional and national actors are required in that regard. Development and security are interlinked and critical to an effective and comprehensive approach to countering terrorism. The spread of terrorism and extremism in various parts of Africa is a source of serious concern. More specifically, the crisis in Mali carries negative implications for the region and beyond, and requires a multifaceted and integrated response in which the political, security, humanitarian and human- rights dimensions are well coordinated and mutually reinforcing. Azerbaijan supports the ongoing efforts aimed at restoring the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity, and at dismantling the terrorist and criminal networks there. It is essential to continue taking all measures necessary to effectively confront the threats and challenges posed by terrorists and armed opposition groups in Somalia, in particular Al-Shabaab, including through actions against those internal and external actors who attempt to undermine the peace process there. Across the continent, priority should be given to continued implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in an integrated manner and in all its aspects, as well as to the relevant Security Council resolutions. We stress the urgent need for prompt and effective application of the sanctions imposed by the Council as a key instrument in the fight against terrorism. It is also critical that States work towards developing strategies and enhancing coordination in order to combat the activities and prevent the expansion of terrorist Islamist groups such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram, the Mouvement pour l’unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest and Ansar Dine. It should be noted that the last two have recently been listed by the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities in connection with the emerging terrorist threat in West Africa. The full implementation of international legal obligations and the most transparent inter-State cooperation in Africa are fundamentally important. We recognize that significant efforts are being made by the United Nations and other international, regional and subregional organizations to promote cooperation and coordination and to enhance the capacities of African States to tackle terrorism and transnational organized crime. We believe that bilateral cooperation programmes with African States should also be expanded. Azerbaijan is ready to jointly explore, as part of its dialogue with the African Union, the possibilities for our assistance in that area.

I thank the Togolese presidency, and in particular His Excellency the President of the Togolese Republic, for organizing and presiding over today’s debate on the challenges that terrorism poses to peace and security in Africa. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and Mr. Abdullahi Shehu for their briefings. There can be no doubt that, sadly and worryingly, terrorism continues to grow in Africa. This reflects the evolution of the terrorist threat we face, which is ever more fragmented and geographically diverse. It threatens the countries and the people of Africa as well as the citizens and interests of countries far beyond Africa’s borders, so the international community must work together with the countries of Africa to address the threat. It is a shared challenge for all of us. Effectively tackling the threat of terrorism requires a comprehensive approach, including political, economic and humanitarian efforts, as well as operational interventions. The Sanctions Committees must play a crucial role in this, and it is important that all relevant components of the United Nations system work together to counter terrorist challenges, while avoiding duplication across its infrastructure. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force are key mechanisms to that end. The international community should work collaboratively to reduce the drivers of terrorism, counter the radicalization of the vulnerable and support inclusive Government structures that provide the people of Africa with both security and prosperity. It can be done, but it will require a tough, intelligent and patient approach. Instability has long been a driver of terrorism. Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups thrive where there is political instability and weak political institutions, and where there has been a failure to address long-standing political or social grievances. The international community must work collaboratively with African nations, taking a comprehensive approach to reducing poverty, developing effective governance and delivering economic progress in order to promote stability. Alongside those efforts, we should continue to seek to understand better what motivates individuals to engage in terrorism and to counter those grievances, be they local, national, regional or international. Terrorism must not be allowed to become an attractive option for those disenfranchised by the status quo. Ransom payments have contributed to the growth of terrorism in Africa. Kidnapping for ransom both supports terrorism and is a form of terrorism itself. The international community must take collective action to combat this problem. We endorse the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum’s Algiers memorandum, which provides practical suggestions on how to prevent and resolve terrorist kidnappings, and we welcome the recent experts’ meeting in Bogotá. We fully support the work of the Financial Action Task Force to improve anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorist-financing frameworks worldwide. Furthermore, we must work together to ensure that the scale of the current threat from terrorism does not grow. As the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom noted in January, “Four years ago, the principal threat from Islamist extremism came from the Afghanistan and Pakistan region. A huge amount has been done to address and reduce the scale of that threat. Whereas at one point three-quarters of the most serious terrorist plots against the United Kingdom had links to that region, today this has reduced to less than half. But at the same time, Al-Qaida franchises have grown in Yemen, Somalia and parts of North Africa.” As the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg noted, Somalia illustrates an important point. Just last week, the United Kingdom hosted the Somalia Conference, attended by representatives of 54 countries. It is clear that fighting terrorism alone cannot on its own address the root causes of the problems Somalia faces. The scale of the challenge means that we must engage all the tools at our disposal  — diplomatic networks, aid and trade, our political relations and security cooperation. We must also support the building blocks of democracy, such as the rule of law. There is no room for complacency in Somalia. Al-Shabaab remains a deadly threat. However, we believe that the gradual progress being made in Somalia offers a frame of reference. It is an approach that the international community can draw on elsewhere to patiently help rebuild fragile States and address the drivers of terrorism. As the Secretary-General said in his opening remarks, and as many speakers have echoed, the struggle against terrorism must go forward on many fronts and in a multidimensional way. We must tackle terrorism in a variety of ways — militarily, of course, but we must also address the narrative that terrorists feed on. We must close down the ungoverned spaces in which they thrive and deal with the grievances they use to garner support. The United Kingdom is committed to working with partners to defeat terrorism. We will use our current chairmanship of the Group of Eight to ensure that these issues remain at the very top of the international agenda.

At the outset, I would like to say that we strongly condemn the abominable terrorist attacks in Turkey over the weekend that killed and injured many innocent civilians. We offer our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Turkey and the families of victims of that heinous crime. We are so pleased that the President of Togo, His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, has done us the honour of presiding over the Council’s meeting today. We also thank the Secretary-General for his compelling statement for action in Africa to fight terrorism. We thank the Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, His Excellency Mr. Jean Asselborn; the Foreign Minister of Morocco, His Excellency Mr. Saad- Eddine El Othmani; and Vice Minister Kim Kyou-hyun of the Republic of Korea and Deputy Minister Eduardo Zuain Argentina for attending this debate. We thank Togo for the terse and incisive concept note (S/2013/264, annex), which gives us a succinct overview of the rising threat of terrorism in Africa. Terrorism is a global threat that knows no geographical boundaries. Africa is the new frontier for international terrorism and rightly deserves the enhanced attention of the international community. Pakistan continues to be a major victim of the scourge of terrorism. We therefore fully appreciate and share the concerns and pain of our African brothers and sisters over the devastation caused by terrorism on the continent. You, Mr. President, have expressed a genuine apprehension that Africa runs the risk of becoming the epicentre of terrorism. We also agree with your analysis outlining seven broad trends. First, terrorist groups are hampering the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions. Second, the terrorist threat in Africa conflates political, religious and ideological extremism with organized crime. Third, historical, cultural and political differences and territorial disputes are hampering the efforts to fight terrorism. Fourth, counter-terrorist activities take precious resources away from economic development and efforts to consolidate the rule of law and democracy. Fifth, as a result of terrorist activities, many countries and regions in Africa run the risk of becoming more destabilized and disintegrated.Sixth, Africa may become a ground for terrorist recruitment, training and funding. Seventh, terrorists may gain control of strategic natural resources such as oil, uranium and diamonds in Africa. In Somalia Al-Shabaab, in Nigeria Boko Haram, in Mali Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa and Ansar Dine, and in the Great Lakes Region the Lord’s Resistance Army have targeted Governments and civilians, committed transnational crimes and thwarted national, regional and international efforts to restore peace and stability in those regions. In the Sahel, the toxic mix of those activities is undermining security, governance and the rule of law. Typically, such terrorist groups take control of a sizable portion of a country to use it as a launching pad for their activities in other countries. They use asymmetric attacks to terrorize populations and destabilize Governments. Those groups are developing linkages with one another, thus creating an arc of instability stretching from the Horn of Africa to Central Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. The causes of terrorism in various parts of Africa vary. Terrorist groups tend to exploit local grievances. However, there are certain common factors that create conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Those include poverty, long unresolved disputes and conflicts, deprivation, marginalization, exclusion and a lack of economic options. Africa’s youth bulge, which constitutes some 60 per cent of the continent’s population of 1 billion, must be harnessed properly by providing them with economic opportunities to thwart the lure of crime. The Security Council and the United Nations as a whole have already done impressive work by developing the legal and normative framework for countering terrorism and by creating mechanisms for implementation. We welcome the increased focus by the Counter-Terrorism Committee on the Sahel region. African countries have demonstrated commitment to combatting terrorism by adopting legal instruments, investing in research and allocating funds out of their scarce resources. However, those efforts fall far short of the threat posed by terrorism. The capacities of the countries affected by the menace remain woefully inadequate if they are to address it at the structural and operational levels. It is apparent that terrorism will not be defeated by law enforcement measures, or intelligence operations, or military and security strategies alone. What is therefore required is a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of the crisis. In our view, the strategy to address terrorism in Africa should include the following six elements. First, it should focus on capacity-building for the criminal justice systems at the regional, subregional and national levels. Priority must be accorded to strengthening border controls and the sharing of information. Secondly, regional and subregional cooperation must be strengthened. Thirdly, the United Nations and the African Union should develop an early- warning mechanism as a preventive measure to counter terrorism. In that respect, distinct competencies can be built into United Nations field missions. Fourthly, as security and development are interrelated, creating educational and economic opportunities, in particular for young people, should be part of the broader agenda for the international community’s involvement with Africa. Fifthly, the option for dialogue with those amenable to renouncing violence and willing to cut off links with terrorist organizations must remain on the table. That would help to promote reconciliation and bridge differences. Pakistan’s comprehensive approach to terrorism is also based on three D’s, that is, deterrence, development and dialogue. Sixthly, emphasis must be laid on countering the financing of terrorism. In Africa’s context, that would include the proceeds of kidnapping for ransom, illicit drug trafficking and piracy. As Africa tries to defeat terrorism, there is a need to intensify efforts to resolve long-festering conflicts and crises that spawn terrorism. Terrorism and extremism should not be associated with any religion, race, value system or society. Combatting terrorism requires resolute efforts by the international community in a cooperative framework. Pakistan will continue to contribute to that endeavour. Finally, we endorse the Council’s presidential statement adopted today on combatting terrorism in Africa (S/PRST/2013/5).

The Chinese delegation thanks Togo for its initiative to hold this debate of the Security Council on the challenges in the fight against terrorism in Africa. We welcome President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and his Foreign Minister presiding over today’s meeting. We also thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the representatives of other relevant agencies for their briefings. Terrorism is the common enemy of humankind. Over recent years, the international community has made some positive progress, but is still faced with a grim situation in the fight against terrorism. Frequent terrorist acts have resulted in enormous civilian casualties. It has become more apparent that terrorist organizers are using younger people, using varied means and developing networks to inflict terror. International cooperation in the fight against terrorism has a long way to go. At present, African countries are faced with the increasingly menacing threat of terrorism and are at the forefront of the international fight against terrorism. Terrorist organizations take advantage of the political and security turmoil in some parts of Africa and incessantly infiltrate and extend their activities to Africa in an attempt to establish new safe havens on the continent. Terrorist activities and ethnic and religious conflicts in Africa are interlinked. They affect each other, further intensifying arms proliferation and cross-border organized crime, thereby damaging regional stability and economic and social development and having a negative impact on international peace and security. The fight against terrorism in Africa should in no way have to be fought by African countries alone, as the international community has a shared responsibility in the matter. The international community should, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the commonly accepted norms governing international relations, adopt swift, effective and coordinated actions and integrated policies that resolve the problem itself and attack its root causes, thereby assisting African countries in their fight against terrorism and thoroughly eliminating the breeding grounds of the scourge. I would like to take this opportunity to state China’s perspective as follows. First, the leadership of African countries in the fight against terrorism should be fully respected. When providing assistance, the international community should respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned, adequately listen to the opinions and ideas of Africa’s countries and regional organizations, and carry out international counter-terrorism cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Efforts should be made to assist African countries in the promotion of dialogue and exchange among civilizations, religions and ethnicities and avoid linking terrorism with a particular religion or ethnicity. Double standards should be avoided. No country should use its own interests, whether threatened or not, as the standard in the determination of what constitutes terrorist activity or a terrorist organization. Secondly, efforts should be made to assist Africa in realizing regional peace and security. The security turmoil in certain parts of Africa provides a hotbed for terrorism. We urge the international community to be objective and fair, support African countries and regional organizations comprehensively and proactively in their effort to maintain regional peace and security, encourage the resolution of African issues by Africans in the African way, and help African countries devise their own development path consistent with their own situations. The international community should also pay due attention to economic and social development in Africa, effectively honour its commitments and actively provide assistance to African countries without any political conditions attached. Thirdly, efforts should be made to help African countries build their capacity in the fight against terrorism. Limited resources and capacities are the biggest constraint for African countries in their fight against terrorism. We urge the international community, in particular developed countries, to redouble its efforts in helping African countries promote capacity- building in the justice and security sectors, strengthen exchanges of experiences and information-sharing and support the relevant efforts of regional and subregional organizations. Helping the enhanced counter-terrorism capacity of African countries should be made an important priority for the United Nations in the context of implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The United Nations should strengthen coordination and cooperation with the relevant parties and provide more effective assistance to Africa through the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. China is also a victim of terrorism. We feel compassion for Africa in the light of the terrorist threat it faces. China resolutely supports African countries and its regional organizations in their unremitting efforts to fight terrorism. We will continue to do what we can to provide support and assistance to African countries to jointly address the threat that terrorism has brought to Africa and the world at large.

I would like to thank the President of Togolese Republic and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Togo, the Secretary- General and all of the Ministers for their participation in this high-level debate. I associate myself with the statement to be made by the Observer of the European Union. Terrorism is a major threat for the African continent, in the Sahel, Nigeria and Somalia. It is a serious threat for regional stability and, beyond that, for international peace and security. It is therefore at very core of the Security Council’s action. In the Sahel, the scourge grew out of problems of governance, drug trafficking and the status of communities. The intervention of French and African forces has reduced the threat but residual elements remain. In Somalia, the situation is still fragile. Al-Shabaab controls a large part of the territory, and terrorist attacks regularly target Government authorities. In Nigeria, Boko Haram continues to pursue its attempts to destabilize the Government. The phenomenon is constantly evolving. The porous borders, linked to technological advances and progress in communications, finance and transportation, have fuelled relationships between terrorist networks and criminal groups operating internationally, thus making the fight against terrorism even more complex. France has made the fight against terrorism in Africa one of its priorities. Our commitment in Mali since 11 January, in conjunction with Malian armed forces and African forces of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali, is the clearest sign of that fact. In that respect, I would like to pay tribute to the commitment of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. I welcome in particular the mobilization of African contingents, namely, Togolese contingents, which were so swiftly deployed in Mali. In January, Mali could have become a State run by terrorists. The situation was obviously unacceptable, not only for Malians themselves but for all the States in the region and beyond the region, that is, for all of those who could one day be affected by terrorism, in Africa, in Europe or elsewhere. That is why France, at the request of the Malian authorities, intervened alongside Malian forces and African forces. The northern towns were retaken, terrorists were thwarted and the territorial integrity of the country was restored. The adoption of resolution 2100 (2013) confirmed the unanimous support of the international community for the stabilization of Mali and the action of France and African States to counter terrorist groups in the region. Today, Mali is able to continue its political process, namely, through the holding of elections. That is crucial because — let us make no mistake about it — in the fight against terrorism, politics is also a weapon. The fight against terrorism in Africa and the world remains, above all, a collective responsibility that requires more than ever the mobilization and coordination of all stakeholders concerned. I am thinking first of all of the States of the region, which have the primary responsibility to prevent and combat all of the forms and expressions of the phenomenon. In that regard, we urge all African States to join the relevant sectoral agreements to combat terrorism and strengthen mutual cooperation, in particular in the Sahel. African regional organizations are particularly concerned by the scourge that has lodged itself on the continent. But it is also up to them to provide solutions. The African Union was therefore able to take up the initiative against Al-Shabaab and has shown great determination against the terrorist groups in Mali. Today, several subregional organizations have acquired the tools to fight the financing of terrorism, such as the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, whose representative’s presence in the Chamber today I welcome. The European Union also contributes to efforts to combat terrorism in Africa. It is not only Africa that the scourge destabilizes; the consequences of terrorism are also felt throughout the world. Therefore, through its efforts in Africa, Europe is participating in ensuring its own security. Of course, the United Nations must also play a role. The Organization has acquired the relevant tools to carry out the fight. First of all, it has adopted a Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, but it has also set up Sanctions Committees supported by the United Nations structure, which remind terrorists on a daily basis that we are not lowering our guard. All of those efforts should be coordinated in order to have a maximum impact. It is only collectively that we manage to effectively fight terrorism in Africa. It is a major challenge, and we do not have the right to fail. Before concluding, allow me to express my condolences to the Government and people of Turkey who have been struck by terrorism.

I would like to begin my statement by thanking the President of the Republic of Togo for attending the beginning of today’s meeting, as well as his senior Minister. That is a sign of the political support that their Administration attaches to our work. We also commend the outstanding work done by Ambassador Kodjo Menan and all of his team at the helm of the Council. The concept note (S/2013/264, annex) that was circulated for today’s debate is a reflection of the high quality of that work. We should like also to express our recognition of the importance of the issue that Togo has selected for our debate: its geographic expression, Africa, and thematic expression, terrorism, are at the heart of the Security Council’s agenda. We also acknowledge the presence of the Secretary-General, and we thank him for his statement this morning. We also thank Mr. Shehu for his statement. The concept note invites us to consider, on the one hand, the conditions and consequences of the terrorist threat in Africa and, on the other, to look at regional efforts and the need for greater support from the international community. Regarding the first aspect, it is well documented that terrorism is often the product of basic conditions such as oppression, social injustice, the lack of economic opportunities and weak State institutions. Thousands of young people choose this path out of despair, which is sometimes magnified by groups that systematically promote their radical and violent causes. In that respect, we should not underestimate the potential links and interconnections between terrorism and destabilizing factors such as transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and piracy. In areas where crime is widespread, terrorists may move in and operate for their own benefit, or terrorists may rely on criminal acts to finance their activities. Moreover, the issue of transnationalization is extremely relevant, since the perpetrators of criminal activities and, sometimes, terrorist groups seek to establish themselves in countries where police or military enforcement is non-existent owing to weak border control and crime. Therefore, the better control and regulation of cross-border activities is essential to guaranteeing peace and stability and to promoting the appropriate policies and necessary socioeconomic activities, especially with a view to the integration of the economies of Africa. We deem of particular importance the need to focus more on the conditions that are conducive to the existence and spread of terrorism. We believe that the effectiveness of our efforts in the fight against terrorism is related to our capacity to successfully address the conditions that fuel that phenomenon. In that regard, we believe that during the past decade we have acquired a large number of multidimensional operational tools to address this issue and to cooperate effectively, taking into account the needs and specificities of each region. Within the scope of the Security Council in particular, we believe that the sanctions regimes have been effective. Let me recall that this organ has reiterated its determination to continue to adopt new sanctions, in accordance with the sanctions regime established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), against groups and persons that do not cut off all ties with Al-Qaida and associated groups, such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa. As we have already heard from previous speakers, we have learned the lesson that it is not possible to combat terrorism exclusively through military force. Although terrorism is clearly an unjustifiable criminal act, any measure to combat it must be taken in strict conformity with international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The legitimacy of the actions of both the United Nations and its Member States is of fundamental importance. For that reason, we would like to touch upon another issue mentioned in the concept note: peacekeeping operations. It is no coincidence that a number of those operations were established in situations that posed a threat to peace and where the presence of terrorist groups was a destabilizing factor. Examples in that respect range from Somalia to Mali. When militant extremists threaten the peace, the issue starts to overlap with that of the protection of civilians, which our peacekeeping operations are typically mandated to ensure. Therefore the fight against terrorism can, in some cases, threaten the guiding principles of peacekeeping operations, such as impartiality and the non-use of force, except in cases of self-defence. That leads me to the second point touched on in the concept note: that international and interregional cooperation are fundamental pillars of the global effort to eradicate international terrorism. In that context, two dimensions should be borne in mind: cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, and cooperation within the United Nations system. All States in all regions, large or small, strong or weak, are vulnerable to terrorism and its consequences. Therefore, in discussing this important issue, the focus should be not only on the individual risk to a particular State or region, but also on a global concerted response on the part of all countries. That means that it is a shared responsibility, because we cannot fight the problem successfully if each and every State does not at the same time combat it within its own jurisdiction. Lastly, let me say that many of these comments are reflected in the presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/5) that we have just adopted, whose text we of course support.

I would like to thank Togo for its leadership in convening this important debate, President Gnassingbé, and you, Mr. Minister, for your presence here today. I wish also to thank the Secretary-General and Mr. Shehu. There is no doubt that, as everyone has said, Africa is the new theatre in the fight against terrorism and that the terrorist threat in Africa poses new and particularly complex challenges. Terrorist groups are showing greater skill at forming alliances and manipulating grievances or insurgencies, and taking advantage of ungoverned spaces. They are increasingly working together, across borders, regions and continents. Australian terrorism investigations have revealed that African terrorist groups have influenced Australian youths through radicalization. As we know, terrorist groups in parts of Africa are exploiting vulnerabilities in States, including institutions with limited capacity, porous borders, existing grievances, and poverty and unemployment. Terrorist activities themselves then exacerbate those conditions. To break that vicious circle, we need to tackle the threat at three levels: through capacity, prevention and coordination. First, with respect to capacity, many African States want better law-enforcement capacity and training. Stronger policing and intelligence and closer cooperation with prosecutors, defence counsel and judges nationally and regionally is needed to develop an effective criminal justice approach. We have learned from experience, for example in Indonesia, that one of the most powerful tools in this fight is actual prosecutions and convictions, some based on joint investigations. That requires effective laws and dedicated regional training facilities in Africa, which strengthen relationships and information-sharing, including intelligence. Drawing on the experience, for example, of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, my own country is supporting the creation of an Eastern African regional counter-terrorism centre, as well as Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate workshops for police and prosecutors in East Africa and Nigeria on effectively bringing terrorists to justice. We have also just finalized a handbook for the African Union on criminalizing terrorism, to assist African policymakers in developing effective criminal laws to combat terrorism. Secondly, equal efforts must be made to prevent terrorism and extremism from emerging, arming and recruiting. Prevention is a complex and difficult task, often without measurable results, but it is equally a decisive component of a comprehensive strategy. Governments need to actively counter the negative drumbeat of terrorist messaging and close opportunities for narratives of injustice or exclusion to resonate and radicalize. We understand that 46 per cent of those who joined ideological militant movements in Mali have said they were motivated by a sense of injustice and revenge, while 21 per cent were motivated by unemployment. Key prevention strategies include building resilience in communities, including ensuring that they promote values of tolerance and understanding and dialogue and respect for diversity. Mali’s new dialogue and reconciliation commission will have a critical role to play in that regard. Opening up opportunities for economic and social advancement  — particularly in relation to engaging youth, which account for more than 60 per cent of Africa’s unemployed, with around 10-12 million youth entering the job market each year  — is a decisive vulnerability. The average age of terrorists, we must remember, is getting younger. Strengthening governance, democracy, the rule of law and trusted security sector institutions includes good service delivery and the extension of State authority to regional areas. The new United Nations mission in Somalia has a strong mandate to assist the federal Government in that regard. We should stress the importance of proactive efforts on security sector reform and on the physical security of State weapons arsenals to prevent arms from leaking into the hands of terrorists, which is one of the key lessons of the Mali crisis. Thirdly, there is the importance of greater coordination at national and regional levels, particularly through the African Union, and at the international level. Today’s presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/5) very usefully highlights that. As the Secretary-General and others have already said today, the long-awaited integrated strategy for the Sahel should provide a strong template for coordinated activity across the Sahel region, encompassing security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance. There are other areas where the United Nations and the Security Council could be doing more on coordination. The Council’s sanctions regime targeting Al-Qaida has enormous potential to assist in turning the tide against Al-Qaida affiliates in Africa. To be effective, the Council and African States need to work together to target those entities, their leaders and, most important, their enablers that provide arms, funds and recruits. To that end, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) has taken a focused look at the threat posed by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa and Ansar Dine and is moving forward with a plan for outreach to countries of the region, with a view to providing assistance to effectively implement the sanctions measures and to encourage partnership with those States to identify the right targets that will deliver the maximum impact. Mr. Shehu told us clearly this morning that we need to improve our performance in targeting and implementing our sanctions. We need to mainstream the analysis of terrorism, its causes and measures to address it into the United Nations peace and security agenda, including mandates and field missions, as the representative of Pakistan said this morning. Too often, we focus our response and peacekeeping and stabilization efforts on a country, when we know the threat can transcend borders and materialize elsewhere. We need to consider further the ways that the United Nations system can buffer the impact of the threat and the response on the immediate region. The Council and the United Nations can work in partnership with neighbouring countries and strengthen dialogue with them to better understand the threat and the risks and to mobilize the necessary support from subsidiary bodies, the rest of the United Nations system and partners to counter the spread of conflict, extremism, arms and funds. Support is often needed particularly in policing, securing borders, securing arms stockpiles and addressing counter-terrorism financing. Stronger coordination between political missions, country and regional offices and panels of experts will also improve the effectiveness of missions and help identify early emerging threats. In conclusion, it is vital that the Council sends a message today  — as I believe we are  — that the international community will cooperate across borders to defeat terrorists and their criminal supporters who are undermining progress and prosperity in Africa. I would also like to join others in expressing condolences to the people and Government of Turkey over the terrorist attacks it suffered over the weekend.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations.

I would like, at the outset, to welcome the presence this morning of His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, and to thank him for his enlightening statement, which clearly indicated the path ahead in terms of counter-terrorism efforts in Africa. We welcome the Togolese presidency of the Security Council and congratulate it for all of the actions taken with respect to issues of concern to the African continent. We also wish to welcome all of those who have come here to participate in the debate. We also wish to thank Mr. Abdullahi Shehu for his statement. In particular we welcome the statement of the Secretary- General, which shed light on an important matter for the African continent. (spoke in English) I would like, on behalf of Her Excellency Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to express the African Union’s gratitude for the invitation extended to us to participate in this important debate on a very important subject that calls for urgent attention, given the new security threats emerging on the African continent, worsened by the scourge of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel Region. I would like to take the opportunity to also highlight the important actions that the African Union (AU) has undertaken in the fight against terrorism in Africa within the context of maintaining international peace and security. Despite having registered commendable progress vis-à-vis the threat of terrorism at international and continental levels, we are witnessing, unfortunately, a further deepening of the complex terrorist threat currently facing the continent. That is particularly evident in the Sahel region, where human, drug and arms trafficking, kidnap-for-ransom, piracy, the illicit proliferation of arms and money laundering are increasingly becoming closely intertwined with terrorism. The African Union has always recognized that interconnection, with its attendant consequences on peace, security, stability and development on the continent. That is reflected in the various AU instruments. As a result of the interconnection, we are witnessing a mutation of the ideologically based terrorism threat to a new form of terrorism, which experts refer to as narco-terrorism. It is a security threat that has given birth to new forms of mercenarism in Africa — guns- for-hire — where fighters are joining not necessarily for ideological reasons, but rather for financial gain. The prevailing security situation in Mali, as well as the case of Somalia, clearly demonstrate the devastating effects of such threats to peace, security and development. Success in the war against terrorism, drug trafficking and other forms of international organized crime requires a firm, focused, coordinated and collective effort by all Member States and the rest of the international community, acting in a complementary manner. Effective counter-terrorism action must aim at addressing the root causes of terrorism and at preventing terrorists from successfully recruiting and carrying out their activities, as well as the ability to limit the damage caused by terrorist attacks. That requires considerable resources and the convergence of like-minded institutions specializing in the different aspects of the counter-terrorism efforts. In such a situation, cohesion, harmonization, coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders and networks become the rule rather than the choice. The counter-terrorism evaluation missions undertaken by the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism to a number of Sahel countries affected by active terrorism have revealed acute weaknesses in the fields of coordination, prevention, law enforcement, damage limitation and protection. Most of the problems were identified as structural and profoundly interrelated, and need to be addressed in a holistic manner striking a strategic balance between the actions aimed at reinforcing security and those that are directed at development. It is in this context that, in an effort to better systematize the continental effort against terrorism and to ensure that local and regional realities and approaches, perceptions, causes, features and manifestations of terrorism are duly taken into account, the African Union Commission has been urging member States and regional economic communities to develop and adopt, as a matter of urgency, comprehensive regional counter-terrorism strategies, as well as coordination and implementation mechanisms, by domesticating the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the 1999 Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, and other relevant AU and United Nations counter- terrorism instruments. It is our belief that in such cases, coordination is best assured by a centrally placed structure at the national and regional levels in the form of a fusion centre that ensures that intelligence and real time operational information is exchanged, and that the activity of each player remains within the framework and the strategic vision adopted at the outset, ensures coherence between intelligence, policy and operation, and provides strategic direction to all parties involved. At the level of the African Union Commission, we continue to work along those lines, giving priority to capacity-building, the improvement of the counter- terrorism legal framework, and the promotion of better institutional interaction and coordination at the national and regional levels, as well as the development of early warning capacity that allows for timely and appropriate intervention. The improvement of the legal framework will be pursued to mobilize technical assistance, particularly in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum criminal justice sector to help member States harmonize their national criminal legislation with the AU counter-terrorism model law by adopting legislation that effectively eradicates terrorism and its financing sources, including from ransom payments and other types of organized crime, particularly drug trafficking. We continue to work on the establishment of the African arrest warrant, the African passport stop list, and the finalization of draft conventions on extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements. With respect to capacity-building, the reality of the member States calls for the development of regional, comprehensive and complete training packages and manuals for law enforcement agencies, security services, judicial services, expert translators, and scientific and technical investigation experts to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime within the regional framework. That would also contribute towards enhanced cooperation between law enforcement agencies, regional protocols to facilitate the indictment of terrorists and other transnational criminal networks, extradition and mutual assistance protocols, and genuine international support to track down those networks. An appropriate mechanism against transnational organized crime is also necessary to ensure sustainability, the provision of financial, logistical and technical support to maintain the efficient functioning of law enforcement, and judicial cooperation. The fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and other types of organized crime is being hampered by overlapping challenges of an economic, social, political, security, human capacity, organizational and infrastructural nature. Committed, sustainable and reliable support on the part of our cooperating partners, in coordination with the member States, in a manner that can also contribute to local development is urgently required if the region is to successfully overcome those difficulties and contribute to the global fight against terrorism and organized crime in general. The need for sustained support to the ongoing establishment of national coordinating structures for terrorism and organized crime in the form of national and regional fusion centres cannot be overemphasized. That should aim at enabling a timely exchange of information, the creation of synergies, and the sharing of resources among different institutions involved in the conduct of joint operations. It would also contribute to enhancing national and regional cooperation. In conclusion, I need to emphasize that ensuring a safe, secure and stable continent that is free from the scourges of terrorism, violent conflicts and other threats to peace, security and development is at the core of the key objective of the African Union. Our presence here today is a clear testament to our commitment and determination to achieve better coordination with the rest of the international community so that we can together effectively prevent and lastingly combat terrorism and all threats to international peace, security and stability. (spoke in French) Like speakers who have preceded me, I would like to offer my condolences to the Government and people of Turkey following the terrorist acts that victimized that country, which is a friend of Africa.

I now give the floor to the representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS fully associates itself with the statement made by the Permanent Observer of the African Union. It is with great joy that I fulfil my pleasant duty of conveying to His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, our respect and admiration for Togo’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council this month. We are also grateful that he has chosen for this meeting a theme that is so important to the stability of our States, concerning the challenges related to counter-terrorism in Africa in the context of international peacekeeping and security. Finally, we would like to thank the President of the Togolese Republic not only for agreeing to travel to New York to preside in person over this important meeting, but also for having delivered an excellent and comprehensive speech, which will be a point of reference as we consider this question. Like other parts of the world, Africa has not been spared by international terrorism, one of the most serious challenges to the international community. The globalization of that threat and its ramifications in Africa have made our continent both a base and a prime target of international terrorist networks, mostly Al-Qaida, which has affiliations in Africa with the terrorist networks Al-Shabaab in East Africa, Boko Haram in Nigeria and a myriad of terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb that are very active in West Africa, the Sahel region and beyond. Africa has been the victim of Al-Qaida attacks since 1998, including those in Tanzania and Kenya. Fortunately, a number of attempts have failed. For the first time, the attacks in Mombasa used a ground-to- air missile against an airline aircraft, which reminds us that the spectre of terrorism still looms on the continent. The presence of the threat was definitively confirmed by the most recent attacks in Casablanca and Algiers. That terrorist threat in Africa grew out of an affiliation of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat in Algeria with Al-Qaida in September 2006, which took the name Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. That group is active in the Sahel; it penetrates porous borders, which are difficult to monitor, to recruit extremists for training and for launching operations that seek to destabilize the area. In that context, the Sahel and Sahara regions, just like East Africa, have been the focus of attention in recent years, given their vulnerability to the terrorist threat. Attacks perpetrated in some countries and the border incidents and threats aimed at destabilizing regions are among the factors that have convinced neighbouring countries to form links of strategic cooperation on the subject. The Malian crisis is but one of the consequences of the increase in terrorism in Africa. Northern Mali has gradually become a sanctuary for terrorist groups, which have circulated with impunity, committing the worst violations of human rights. That terrorist presence threatens not only the States of West Africa and the Sahel but also those in the Maghreb and beyond. That is a genuine threat to international peace and security, which requires a comprehensive and determined response from the international community. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) therefore welcomed the intervention of French troops upon the request of the legal authorities of Mali, which assisted the Malian army in repelling the offensive of the terrorist groups and showed the effectiveness of international solidarity in dealing with the scourge. For their part, African countries made a commitment to combat terrorism in the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States and to make the necessary efforts to establish mechanisms and measures to strengthen peace and security in the common space through cooperation on counter-terrorism, transboundary organized crime, illicit trafficking, money-laundering and cybercrime. The forty-second regular session of the Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held on 27 and 28 February in Yamoussoukro, adopted the ECOWAS counter-terrorism strategy and its implementation plan, as well as a political declaration on a common position on combatting terrorism in the region. On that occasion, ECOWAS solemnly and unambiguously condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including kidnapping, hijacking, hostage-taking, ransom requests, bomb threats in public and private places and important infrastructure, and sabotage and desecration of places of worship and other cultural or sacred places. The ECOWAS counter- terrorism strategy is based on a holistic approach. It includes a full array of measures that are to be taken by various organizations in member States. It provides a strategic orientation to confine and eliminate the threat posed by terrorism to our community. To that end, we will establish a coordination unit to combat terrorism and issue ECOWAS arrest warrants and an ECOWAS blacklist for terrorists and criminal networks in order to facilitate the coordination and sharing of information among member States. In conclusion, ECOWAS is determined to participate fully in combatting the plague of terrorism. We therefore call upon the international community, technical assistance institutions, development partners, the relevant international organizations and civil society groups to coordinate their activities with ECOWAS and to strengthen the various facets of cooperation in order to vanquish this ongoing threat to international peace and security.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Thomas Mayr-Hartin, Head of the Delegation of the European Union. Mr. Mayr-Harting: I speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. For the sake of time, I shall shorten my spoken remarks. The full statement of the European Union will be available in the Chamber. The acceding country Croatia; the candidate countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland and Serbia; the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina; the European Free Trade Association country Norway, member of the European Economic Area; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. At the outset, please let me thank the Togolese presidency for organizing today’s debate and, in particular, the President of Togo for coming to personally preside over this debate on the challenges that terrorism poses to peace and security in Africa. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. International terrorism constitutes a very significant threat to peace and security in many parts of the world. Regrettably, that is also true in Africa. The increasingly international, and even global, nature of the terrorist threat means that no continent is spared. Spillover effects between countries and continents are now a reality. That is also true for Africa and Europe. While the effort to prevent and counter terrorism starts at the national level, only regional cooperation, in particular cooperation between regions in a global context, will have any chance of sustainable success. At the global level, the European Union fully supports the high priority given to the fight against international terrorism by the United Nations. The Organization has a crucial role to play in harnessing regional efforts in a coordinated, global framework. In that context, I would also like to mention the important role of global counter-terrorism. Before turning to the specific situation in Africa, I would like to take this opportunity to enumerate the five conditions that, in the European experience, are required for successful counter-terrorism efforts. First, global counter-terrorism efforts must be underpinned by solid efforts at the regional level, including action to stop vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism and conflict. Every region needs to fully commit to addressing the problem and, as far as possible, to take a lead in responding to it. Regional and subregional organizations need to engage actively. In that regard, we welcome the steps taken by the African Union (AU), notably the AU Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism in Africa, and the appointment, in 2010, of Francisco Madeira as the AU special representative in charge of counter-terrorism cooperation. We also welcome the recent adoption of a far-reaching counter-terrorism strategy by the Economic Community of West African States, about which the representative of Côte d’Ivoire has just spoken. Secondly, to be successful, counter-terrorism efforts need to address not only the symptoms but also the root causes that create the environments that enable terrorist organizations to develop. Thirdly, we need to pay due attention to risks related to radicalization. While specific anti-radicalization actions, in particular through education, can have a positive effect, they need to be accompanied by development support that addresses the root causes of radicalization. Fourthly, we should not separate counter-terrorism efforts from support for good governance in the regions affected by terrorism. Steps to end the use of torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings will stifle terrorist recruitment. Equally, steps to enhance local governance and democratic participation by local communities will have beneficial effects, as will strenuous efforts to fight corruption and strengthen and reform an independent judiciary. The European experience of counter-terrorism has shown the paramount importance of keeping the fight against terrorism solidly within the bounds of the rule of law, including international human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian law. Violations of such law will play in the hands of terrorist organizations. The European Union is stepping up its support for counter-terrorism and development efforts in West Africa and the Sahel, as well in as in the Horn of Africa. We are firmly committed to enhance the implementation of the EU Sahel strategy, with counter- terrorism as a key theme. Allow me to salute the efforts made in the region to draw up and implement national counter-terrorism and stabilization strategies. Also, in 2012, the EU launched EUCAP SAHEL, a training and capacity-building mission based in the Niger. The crisis in Mali has further accelerated the European Union’s engagement in that region. On 2 April, the European Union launched EU Training Mission Mali, a new mission to train the Malian army. That mission will work hand in hand with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. In that context, please allow me to also mention the international donors’ conference on Mali that the Presidents of Mali, France and the European Commission will host in Brussels on Wednesday. We are grateful for the significant high-level participation from the region at that conference. The other focal point for EU counter-terrorism support in Africa is Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region. Since the adoption of the its strategic framework for the Horn of Africa in 2011, the European Union has stepped up its involvement linking political, security-related and development support. In that context, let me refer, inter alia, to our crisis- management missions, the European Union military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces, EU NAVFOR Atalanta, which contributes to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy, and EUCAP NESTOR. The EU also continues to provide significant financial support through the African Peace Facility to the African Union Mission in Somalia, whose efforts and sacrifices have been crucial in the still-ongoing extension of State authority across the territory of Somalia. The European Union on 31 January also adopted the EU counter-terrorism action plan for the Horn of Africa. Finally, let me mention that the European Union is also pursuing the initiative of stepping up the mobilization and coordination of international support for Somalia, and will host a major international conference in Brussels on 16 September. While the recent progress in Somalia is encouraging, the scourge of terrorism in Africa is far from defeated, as the recent crisis in Mali has shown particularly dramatically. Comprehensive preventative strategies are key to countering the process of and thereby reducing the likelihood of terrorist groups developing the ability to plot attacks. Further attention and resources should be devoted to effectively examining and addressing the connections between terrorism and transnational organized crime. We need to be vigilant so that terrorist organizations do not exploit the positive political changes in North Africa. The lead for these efforts lies clearly with African Governments and African regional and subregional organizations. For its part, the European Union will continue to develop its support for their efforts to build national and regional counter-terrorism strategies and capacities, including work to counter the process of radicalization, in line with the comprehensive approach addressing poverty, development, governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights and international law.

I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.

It is a great honour for me to welcome the President to New York and to thank him for Togo’s initiative to convene this debate on “Peace and security in Africa: the challenges of the fight against terrorism in Africa in the context of maintaining international peace and security”. His presence at this meeting is testimony of Togo’s commitment to doing whatever is necessary to ensure that the challenges of terrorism are effectively addressed through international cooperation, which is the only way that the scourge can be defeated. I express our sympathies to the people of Turkey. I am also grateful for the opportunity given to me to speak on my country’s behalf as Chair of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a subregional organization that, in close coordination with the African Union, has done so much to address the challenges of terrorism in the Horn of Africa. In that respect, both IGAD and the African Union (AU) have been at the forefront of the fight against international terrorism. The two organizations have also been extremely eager to strengthen international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, including with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Both have been ready to work closely with the Secretariat’s Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. Both IGAD and the AU have also sought to ensure greatly enhanced cooperation with the Council’s three anti-terrorism Committees  — the Counter- Terrorism Committee and Executive Directorate, Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). The AU, and before it the Organization of African Unity (OAU), has been actively engaged in the fight against terrorism since the 1990s. It began with the adoption, in 1992, of the resolution on the strengthening of cooperation and coordination among African States. A major step was taken by the OAU subsequently when in 1999 it adopted its Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. To give concrete expression to the principles of the Convention, the organization produced a plan of action in 2002 that provided for the establishment of the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, which came into being in 2004 with its seat in Algiers. Among the functions of the Centre is the objective of strengthening the capacity of African States in the struggle against terrorism. No event has shown more clearly how Africa needs to build its capacity in this area than the situation that we faced in Mali. Our experience in Mali has also demonstrated how much the building of robust State institutions is absolutely indispensable to fight terrorism effectively. But still, where Africa has shown the most resolve has been on the practical side of the fight against terrorism and extremism. No doubt, both Africa in general, and the Horn of Africa in particular, have been targets of international terrorism. It is obvious that the ultimate victory over extremism and terror can be achieved only when the root causes of the scourge are effectively addressed. It is impossible to ensure acceptable levels of peace and security in the face of abject poverty and deprivation, and the hopelessness that they spawn. But terrorism has no justification. The international consensus at present condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purpose. Our experience in the IGAD region tells us that there is little chance of succeeding in the fight against terrorism, except through genuine, effective international cooperation that makes no distinction regarding where the crime of terrorism is committed. That often-expressed notion, with the aim of distinguishing among groups that resort to terror based on where the act is committed, is a recipe for defeating the spirit and determination of genuine international cooperation aimed at overcoming this scourge. In other words, as long as there is a double standard in the fight against terrorism, there can be little hope of defeating international terrorism. We have agreed at the international level that the location, the targets and those who carry out the act do not matter as far as terrorism is concerned. It is the means used to achieve a goal, whatever the goal may be, that is the basis for international cooperation against terrorism. In that regard, we still have a long way to go before we reach to the stage where we can say that now, at last, we, the international community, have laid the foundation for an effective cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism. That is not to say that the IGAD region, for instance, has not enjoyed the cooperation of the Security Council, other partners and the international community at large to ensure that progress is made towards peace and stability in our subregion. The progress we see in Somalia today would not have been possible without such cooperation. On the other hand, it is clear, given the magnitude of the problem in the subregion and its vulnerability, that much more is needed to ensure that real progress is made and that gains made are not reversed. By any standard, at present it appears that there is far greater cooperation and coordination among those promoting and perpetrating terror than there is among those theoretically committed to doing whatever is necessary to defeat the scourge. Those committed to terror have become very adept at using modern communication technology, including the Internet, perhaps better than most who profess the determination to fight them. That is the experience we have had in the Horn of Africa, and that is why it has become so critical to have genuine practical international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Transnational crimes of the various types that help spread terrorism can be contained only when there is such cooperation and coordination at the international level. Legal regimes for combating terrorism are critical to success in this area, but their effectiveness depends on the existence of genuine cooperation that makes no distinction based on where the crime of terrorism is committed. In that regard, there is no doubt that the international community has a lot of work to do in order to make progress in addressing the concerns of many, including those in the IGAD region.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your sisterly country’s presidency of the Security Council for this month. We also commend your initiative in convening this important meeting on the challenges of the fight against terrorism in Africa in the context of maintaining international peace and security. This is a good and timely choice. We welcome the participation of a number of ministers in today’s meeting. In that context, my delegation would like to extend its condolences to all the victims of terrorism throughout the world. My delegation acknowledges the international consensus on implementing the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the United Nations in 2006. We also welcome the efforts of the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force to ensure coordination in measures aimed at combating terrorism and implementing the Strategy. In that context, we again commend the launch of efforts by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre and the initiative taken by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, which led to the opening of the Centre. Again and again, we are increasingly convinced that, as we have heard today, terrorism has no religion, no colour, no gender. The events that have been witnessed by some countries around the world, particularly some African States, in recent months, show that terrorism is on the rise, along with the spreading roots and grievances on which terrorists build their misguided intellectual theories. Treating those root causes therefore is an effective remedy for eradicating this pernicious phenomenon. Combating poverty and supporting the renaissance of Africa, eliminating injustice and inequality and promoting development, fostering dialogue between North and South, supporting education and health initiatives, and enhancing international dialogue are among the issues that can make a positive contribution to solving the problem of terrorism. These are universally agreed issues. At the national level, the Sudan has signed and ratified all the relevant international conventions dealing with combating terrorism. It is also party to African and Arab regional conventions and participates actively in the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation aimed at fighting terrorism. We consider the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to be one of the most important legal frameworks governing and guiding the related regional and international institutions and laws. The counter-terrorism laws adopted by the Sudan in 2001 conform to the Strategy’s principles, as does our 2010 anti-money-laundering law. Efforts are currently under way in my country to adopt relevant laws on nuclear energy, cyber crime and chemical materials, in accordance with the principles of the Strategy. In that connection, we would like to emphasize the Sudan’s cooperation with the United Nations mechanisms in this area, as well as its commitment to submitting periodic reports in accordance with resolution 1373 (2001), in the framework of the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. The Sudan plays a leading role within the framework of the East African Community by hosting numerous seminars and conferences with a view to coordinating regional efforts to combat terrorism. The most recent meeting hosted by the Sudan was a conference of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force, focused on combating terrorism financing and money laundering in the region. That conference was convened in the Sudan in April. The efforts deployed by the African Union are acknowledged and welcomed, in particular those of the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, which is hosted by the friendly country of Algeria. By the same token, we welcome the efforts launched towards enacting a model law for Africa in the area of combatting terrorism, even if those efforts focused on the theoretical framework. My delegation would like to issue a call from this Chamber to support the efforts of the African Union and our States in the field of combatting terrorism at the capacity-building level, as well as the operational and logistical levels. The efforts of the African Union and other regional African organizations have played an important role in containing the phenomenon of terrorism in cooperation with the Security Council and other States. What has been happening recently in the sisterly country of Mali is a case in point that highlights those efforts. We hope that Mali will emerge from its crisis stronger and less vulnerable. In the post-colonial stage, Africa suffered the ravages of wars that weakened it and slowed its progress despite the natural wealth and resources it possesses. Terrorism and its promoters now represent a new threat to the security and renaissance of the continent. Africa’s rich natural wealth makes the continent fertile ground for terrorist gangs from outside the continent that hide behind religious or ethnic conflict. That has led to interlinkages among those groups and rebel movements, which supply the former with weapons. Many parts of Africa have thus become theatres for terrorist activities by gangs and rebel movements. There has been a series of criminal terrorist incidents in my country and neighbouring countries. Allow me to refer to the incidents of plundering, killing and pillaging perpetrated by the rebel movement known as the Sudanese Revolutionary Front in a number of the villages and cities north of Kordofan in my country  — similar to atrocities carried out by the Lord’s Resistance Army. I am also sad to convey to the Council news of the terrorist action perpetrated by terrorists against those who prefer to join the peace process. Yesterday, they killed Mr. Mohamed Bishr, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement peace faction, as well as a number of other leaders who had joined the call for peace. That incident was strongly condemned and deplored by the African Union. From this Chamber, we call upon the Security Council and the United Nations to condemn such terrorist acts. My delegation emphasizes the need to respect the sovereignty of States and human rights in the context of combating terrorism, particularly for people who are chafing under the yoke of colonialism and occupation, as well as to respect their right to self-determination. We renew our rejection of the unilateral punitive measures taken by some States for political reasons against other States on the pretext of fighting terrorism. That gives rise to suffering and raises tensions in international relations. In conclusion, we call for an intensification of international endeavours to arrive at a global international convention that specifies a just and clear- cut definition of terrorism.

I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Algeria is honoured to take part in this very important debate tpresided over by His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic. My delegation is pleased to have been able to listen to the points made in the important statement that he delivered at the opening of this debate. Allow me to also express my congratulations to the Permanent Mission of Togo for the very excellent and wise initiative of having organized, under its presidency, this high-level debate on the challenges of the fight against terrorism in Africa in the context of maintaining international peace and security. (spoke in English) Terrorism has been spreading dangerously in most of African subregions, through groups mainly structured around the Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. The Sahel subregion in particular hosts a narrow and increasingly systematic series of connections between terrorism and multiple forms of organized crime, including drug trafficking. That alarming situation should mobilize cooperation among African countries, regional and international organizations and other partners from the international community on both security and development aspects. The legal and institutional framework to combat terrorism in Africa was put in place in anticipation years ago, in particular under the auspices of the African Union. Algeria took part in that process and was among the countries that played a pioneering role in that respect, as testified by the adoption in Algiers in July 1999 of the Organization of African Unity’s Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, which was followed by the establishment of implementing mechanisms and a plan of action adopted in Addis Ababa and Algiers. Among the mechanisms created, it is worth noting the important work of the Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the headquarters of which is in Algiers, which has made an important contribution, inter alia, to preparing an African draft model law to combat terrorism. ACSRT is an important partner of the United Nations entities in charge of the struggle against terrorism, including in strengthening African countries’ national capacities and in coordinating and implementing subregional and regional projects. The fight against terrorism cannot be effective without eliminating its underlying resources and disrupting all related criminal activities that are aimed at financing the crimes of terrorist groups. Within the framework of the African Union and the United Nations, Algeria has spared no effort to raise awareness of the dangers posed by hostage-taking and the payment of ransoms, as well as of the importance of fighting that scourge. Such criminal practices have provided terrorist groups with an important source of financing, which has enabled the expansion of their activities, as was recently seen in the events in the Sahel region. My delegation’s efforts within the United Nations have been geared to ensuring that provisions on that issue are included in General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. In that regard, we continue to encourage United Nations entities working under the auspices of the General Assembly to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as those working under the Security Council to apply greater efforts and resources to tackling the issue. Algeria is fully committed to regional cooperation in fighting the destabilization caused by terrorists and organized crime groups in the Sahel region. Our commitment is not new. As mentioned in the Togolese presidency’s concept note (S/2013/264, annex), regional measures taken in Africa in that area were intended to be preventive and coordinated and to rely on multiple initiatives. In that spirit, the cooperation framework established by the countries of the region is an important milestone. It provides a forum for close and regular political consultation. Accordingly, the most recent meeting among Mali’s neighbouring countries, held in Nouakchott on 17 March, enhanced coordination and the exchange of information, in particular on matters related to political, financial and logistical assistance for Mali, as well as border control issues. Other components of the cooperation whose mechanisms have already been implemented will need to be further developed in the future. Algeria notes with satisfaction the tasks accomplished by the African-led International Support Mission in Mali pursuant to the provisions of resolution 2085 (2012), in particular the reduction of the threat of terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa and Ansar Dine and associated extremist groups, and in support of recovery by the Malian authorities of areas under the control of those terrorist groups. In conclusion, my delegation would like to highlight the important role played by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, which seeks to combat terrorist activities in Africa in close collaboration with Member States. The fruitful cooperation between Algeria and the Committee has resulted in the listing of individuals and entities. Noteworthy among recent additions is the Movement of Unity and Jihad in West Africa, a terrorist group that was added to the list upon the initiative of my delegation.

I give the floor to the representative of Benin.

First of all, Mr. President, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Boni Yayi, I would like to convey to you the congratulations of our Government on your country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. We were very happy with the choice of theme for today’s debate, a topic that makes the issue of security in Africa a central concern on the international agenda. My delegation fully subscribes to the analysis contained in the concept note presented by Togo (S/2013/264, annex). Owing to its many vulnerabilities, Africa has become a favourite target for terrorist entities operating under the cover of violent extremism and religious fanaticism and in collusion with global criminal networks seeking to set up sanctuaries on the African continent by destabilizing its countries. The phenomenon, which we have seen manifested in Mali, is liable to repeat itself in other places on the continent already under siege, given the adverse effects of the proliferation and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons. The flood of dirty money, produced from all sorts of trafficking, further contributes to making States more fragile. The report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, presented during the summit that was held in January, focuses on evidence of collusion between extremism and transnational crime in the various regions of the continent. As a negation of the fundamental values of the free world, narco-terrorism must be fought with determination wherever it emerges. It is fortunate that the international community has correctly sized up the global nature of the challenge posed by the phenomenon in Africa and is doing what it can to put in place an effective partnership to eliminate it. We reiterate our support for the operations launched by France and supported by Chad, which made it possible to save the Malian State and recover territories occupied by terrorists in the northern part of the country. The establishment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali will allow for integrated assistance for the rebirth of Mali. Benin is ready to make its modest contribution to the effort. The situation that the international community had to face in Mali has shown the limits of the continental peace architecture for Africa. It also illustrated the obvious need to correct the situation, the reasoning for which emerged during the high-level thematic debate held in the General Assembly on 25 and 26 April. Interregional compartmentalization, not only with respect to markets but also with respect to security, must be eliminated, so as to be able to conduct an integrated fight against the new threats. It is also necessary for international solidarity to be deeply involved, along with the meaningful implementation of the global strategy for the Sahel that is being developed. There should also be debt forgiveness measures, improved access to markets and support for the private sector and for the creation of businesses, in order to permit the establishment of sustainable peace and security in Africa. In that respect, we should emphasize that the resilience of individual States is an essential factor in combating terrorism. The global counter-terrorist machinery is as strong as its weakest link. Building national capacities is therefore vital. There is an obvious correlation among the fragility of States, poverty, conflicts and terrorism. That is truly a challenge for Africa. It is from that perspective that the Security Council summit held on 14 September 2005 (see S/PV.5261) adopted two important resolutions. I am speaking of resolution 1624 (2005), on terrorism, which calls for a ban on terrorist propaganda, and resolution 1625 (2005), on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, which advocates for the elimination of the underlying causes of conflict. Both resolutions are part of a complementary approach that must be maintained in the efforts that are currently under way. Benin believes that combating terrorism, along with military measures and the provision of technical assistance appropriate for strengthening the security structures of States, must also include measures designed to promote sustainable development, eradicate poverty in all its forms, create jobs, fight hunger, empower women and create opportunities for young people in order to save them from the allure of criminals. The success of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy depends on it.

I now give the floor to the representative of Tanzania.

We thank your presidency of the Security Council, Sir, for proposing this important briefing on combating terrorism in Africa in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security. No cause whatsoever justifies terrorism. The values of life, safety and security are values that terrorists do not share. Nonetheless, they are values shared by most States. Africa and its people are no exception. Terrorism is a threat to the values and humanity we all share, as well as to the development and prosperity we all want for our countries and peoples. It is a real and growing threat to peace and security. Its defeat is an imperative we must pursue. The Council’s dynamism in this regard is highly commendable. The concept note (S/2013/264, annex) for this briefing makes a pertinent observation. Terrorism in Africa is becoming more complex and transnational. Indeed, there are clear signs that Africa could become the epicentre of this global vice. Regardless of their purported objectives  — political, religious, social or economic  — the perpetrators of terrorism are only criminals. We must unite to fight them, and never must they be in doubt about our collective resolve to do so. The activities of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa are an affront to everything African. These groups and their sponsors demand urgent and undivided action on the part of the international community, including this Council. In 1998, Kenya and Tanzania suffered coordinated terrorist attacks in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. A few years later in 2001, New York was attacked in what is now known as the 9/11 tragedy. It was in that regard this Council adopted resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001) to address the spectre. In the same manner, the General Assembly unanimously adopted the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006 to guide our collective endeavours in the fight against terrorism. These and other national, subregional, regional and international instruments for fighting terrorism are essential tools. Their implementation is critical if we are to see any meaningful impact on the ground. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides a practical framework for combating terrorism. It has to be complemented with adequate support and resources for the study of the root causes of terrorism, for it is only through proper diagnosis that can we apply appropriate tools in uprooting the scourge. This rationale has driven our support for a holistic approach in the implementation of the pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In this regard, we see three critical aspects. First, in any effort to address terrorism in Africa, we must not ignore the aspect of poverty. Its pervasiveness and spread throughout the continent offer breeding grounds for unrest, particularly in communities affected by the spectre of terrorism. Indeed, local and transnational terrorist organizations thrive in these conditions. Other potentially permissive and indirect causal factors of terrorism — such as rapid population growth, especially burgeoning male youth unemployment, urbanization, social inequality and exclusion, dispossession and political grievances — also need to be taken into account. Secondly, our efforts to combat terrorism must go hand in hand with building strong partnerships at the national, regional and international levels. They are our best defence against extremism. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, we can succeed only by working together in building strong and stable States with shared values of tolerance, mutual respect and commitment to the rule of law and democracy. Thirdly, capacity — and institution-building must be central in our common endeavours. In Tanzania, the Government has put in place several mechanisms for combating terrorism, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002 and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2006, as well as the establishment of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre and the Financial Intelligence Unit. Our goal is to continue to strengthen our law enforcement and police capacities, improve aviation, maritime and border security, and combat money-laundering and terrorist financing. We wish in this regard to acknowledge the useful support we have received from bilateral and multilateral partners including the United Nations. Regrettably, only recently we suffered another terrorist attack in Arusha, where three lives were lost and more than 40 persons injured. President Kikwete reminded us that terrorism remains an enduring threat and that we can never relax our vigilance. Reports of another attack in Libya this afternoon are yet another reminder that we cannot let down our guard. It is in this sense that the United Republic of Tanzania remains steadfast in its resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whenever and by whomsoever committed. We shall continue to use all tools at our disposal to succeed, including by building partnerships such as those only this Council can foster.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.