S/PV.9842 Security Council

I would like to warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary-General, the Ministers and the other high-level representatives present in the Chamber. Their presence today attests to the importance of the subject matter under discussion. In accordance with rule 37 of the Security Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, the Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: His Excellency Mr. Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and Mr. Said Djinnit, Senior Adviser, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite the following to participate in the meeting: Her Excellency Mrs. Kinza Aby Jawara-N’jai, Permanent Observer of the Economic Community of West African States to the United Nations; His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations; and Mr. Dominique Bahorera, Deputy Special Representative of the International Criminal Police Organization to the United Nations. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/23, which contains the text of a letter dated 10 January 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I now give the floor to the Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed.

Africa has tragically remained the epicentre of global terrorism. In all its forms and manifestations, terrorism is the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the African continent today. For that reason, I would like to begin by commending the Algerian presidency for focusing today’s discussions on the nexus of security, development and human rights-based policies in African counter-terrorism efforts. I want to acknowledge and commend the dedication and the sacrifices of the Member States on the front lines of counter-terrorism efforts — their commitment Let me first present a stocktake of where we find ourselves. Despite continued counter-terrorism efforts by Member States, sub-Saharan Africa now accounts for nearly 59 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths globally. The Sahel is ground zero for one of the world’s most brutal crises. For three straight years, terrorism-related deaths have soared past 6,000, making up more than half of all global fatalities. In that deadly surge, Burkina Faso is now leading the world in terrorism deaths, with a staggering 68 per cent increase and with little support to help reverse that trend. Al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates have spread their deadly tentacles to West Africa’s coastal countries, with violent attacks soaring by more than 250 per cent in just two years. The statistics tell a chilling story, but recent attacks bring the horrifying reality into sharp focus. On 8 January, Benin endured its deadliest attack since 2021, near its borders with Burkina Faso and the Niger. The assault, claimed by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, claimed the lives of at least 28 Beninese soldiers. Just days earlier, on 4 January, extremists launched a brutal attack on a military base in Sabon Gida, Damboa, Nigeria, leaving six soldiers dead. Those attacks are a grim reminder that the violence continues to escalate with deadly force. Meanwhile, a little-known group, Lakurawa, is gaining strength and conducting cross-border attacks in north- west Nigeria, the Niger and Chad. There are also growing risks of infiltration and radicalization along Ghana’s northern regions, as well as in Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. In other parts of Africa, terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia, the Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama in Mozambique continue to unleash horrific violence. They are not only terrorizing communities, but also inflicting unspeakable acts of sexual and gender- based violence, assaulting children and forcibly recruiting them into their ranks. Let us make no mistake. At this rate, West Africa’s future hangs in the balance. The marginalization of youth, coupled with soaring unemployment, has left an entire generation vulnerable to extremist groups. If we do not act, we risk losing this generation to the horrors of terrorism, their futures stolen before they even have a chance to begin. The impact on women and families is particularly devastating. Terrorists frequently exploit and brutalize women through sexual and gender-based violence, including forced marriages and abductions, causing profound trauma that reverberates through entire communities. Families are displaced, livelihoods are destroyed and the social fabric necessary for resilience and recovery is torn apart. Most terrifyingly, the tactics of those groups are evolving at a rapid and alarming pace. Terrorist networks are now pooling resources  — finances, fighters and expertise — while sharpening their capabilities with new technologies, including uncrewed aerial systems. The bleak picture I just painted is a reminder of the complexity of the threat. As terrorism evolves, so must we. Countering terrorism must continue to innovate with an approach that holds the respect for human rights and the rule of law at its core, and with an outcome that addresses the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. African Member States, with the full backing of the international community, must forge cohesive and conducted responses grounded in the humanitarian-development- peace nexus and aligned with the guiding principles of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), agreed last September by Member States, gives a renewed momentum to global efforts against terrorism. The Pact — along with the Global Digital Compact (General Assembly resolution 79/1, Now it is time to meet these unmet commitments and to implement the promises made in the Pact with determined action. Three areas should be prioritized. First, we need to continue to address the drivers of terrorism. Terrorism thrives on fragility and feeds off poverty, inequality and disillusionment. When financing for development regresses, when fragile institutions are matched with weak governance, when women and youth are excluded from decision-making and when public services are scarce or unequal, those conditions create fertile ground for radicalization and recruitment. When it comes to organized crime specifically, terrorist networks have a ready source of youth, financing, weaponry and logistical support. Building inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies must be our goal, and we have a road map to get there — the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). We must implement them. Secondly, we need human rights-based approaches to counter-terrorism, grounded in accountable and inclusive institutions. Too often, counter-terrorism measures result in avoidable human rights violations. That can put countries on a fragile path, risking further instability and insecurity and eroding confidence in State institutions. Investing in robust local security institutions is critical to sustaining peace and stability. We must equip law-enforcement and judicial bodies with the training, resources and accountability frameworks necessary to confront terrorism effectively while safeguarding human rights. Counter-terrorism responses should be fully inclusive, involving civil society, including women, young people, minorities and marginalized groups. Thirdly, regional cooperation is the linchpin of any effective counter-terrorism strategy. Fragmenting our efforts only plays into the hands of perpetrators and serves their interests. Because terrorists thrive by exploiting and sowing division, our responses must be united, coherent and urgent, focused on fostering dialogue, trust and coordinated action. The African Union and its Counter-Terrorism Centre have a leading role in this, but we must go further. Regional initiatives across Africa have a critical part to play in this area, including through support to the African Union and regional economic communities, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad basin. The Standby Force of the Economic Community of West African States must also be strengthened to act now. The Accra Initiative should be fully operationalized to tackle cross-border issues and prevent the radicalization of young people. And in West Africa and the Sahel, existing frameworks must be prioritized. Above all, we must ensure that regional efforts are in lockstep, united in their purpose and aligned with the strategy. We believe that is the only way to ensure that we can face down the threat of terrorism together. Ultimately, African-led and African-owned solutions must take the lead in tackling terrorism across the continent. The High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting organized by the Government of Nigeria in April 2024 reinforced and amplified that message. The joint AU- United Nations road map endorsed in October 2024 and the adoption of resolution 2767 (2024) are important milestones building on the commitments supporting the African Union counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia and in the region. Of course, commitments alone are not enough — adequate resources must be in place. I am therefore pleased that resolution 2719 (2023) responds to the long-standing call from African Member States for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for AU-led peace support operations.

I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Adeoye. Mr. Adeoye: The gravity of the threat caused by the exponential growth of terrorism in Africa is overwhelming and startling. In 2024 alone, the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre, based in Algiers, recorded more than 3,400 terrorist attacks, which resulted in more than 13,900 fatalities. Our continent is indeed facing a damning challenge. We have reached a tipping point, and we must act together in response. Terrorism and violent extremism derail development opportunities, particularly for young people and communities, thereby breaking down the fabric of African society. Terrorism dents the confidence in the social contract between the nation-State and the people. The consequences are enormous, complex and severe. These non-State armed groups impede the full functioning of democratic governance and block the pathway to inclusive growth in Africa. In effect, the continent’s lofty aspirations embodied in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are in jeopardy if our collective will and response are not effective. With the geography of terrorism in Africa now engulfing its five regions, for the first time in half a century the African Union (AU) has recalibrated its strategic approach to facing the changing dynamics of terrorism. We are retooling our policy instruments, especially given projections that we may be witnessing an escalation of between 10 and 15 per cent in terrorism in 2025. The African Union has developed active frameworks that are grounded in the principles of African ownership and leadership. As the threat grows, we are refocusing on building integrated capacities for African Union member States and regional mechanisms. We are also mobilizing the full range of material, knowledge and financial resources, based on smart, value-driven partnerships, to defeat the scourge. The African Union is thereby responding swiftly and effectively by implementing the Silencing the Guns by 2030 programme. Back in 1999, our leaders took a giant step in what was then the Organization of African Unity following the adoption in Algiers of the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. For example, while the world stood by as Somalia bled in the early 2000s, the African Union stepped in to save it and the region of the Horn of Africa from the lawless and dastardly acts of Al-Shabaab. With the strong support of the European Union and the United Nations, the legacies of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia are going to shape the newly established African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). In May 2022, African leaders exhibited strong political will through their adoption of the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, which was reinforced by the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting held in Abuja in April 2024. Our leaders in Africa continue to demonstrate the spirit embodied in the concept of African solutions to African problems, which works for all. The Malabo Declaration underscored the imperative of embracing The African Union adopted the Regional Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience Strategy for Areas Affected by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin Region. It remains a prime example of linking security with development. The results have been encouraging thanks to the support from the governors of the region and the United Nations. We continue to focus on rebuilding the critical social infrastructure in the affected communities in the Lake Chad basin. Furthermore, the AU is promoting the peace, security and development nexus approach in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the United Nations and international partners. With barely five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and 38 years to realize the aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063, we must reshape our strategies to accelerate the achievement of the goals represented in those two agendas. At the centre of strengthening African leadership for development-focused counter- terrorism, the African Union is promoting a number of initiatives. The first is the revitalization of the Nouakchott and Djibouti processes on intelligence-sharing. The second entails refocusing our centre in Algiers, now renamed the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, and classifying it as a centre of excellence that, most importantly, embraces a whole-of-society approach and a whole-of-government approach to countering terrorism. Under the African Union Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention, we are fostering regional and continental efforts in combating terrorism. We have also elaborated a new continental strategic plan of action in consultation with regional bodies. A collective approach at the national and regional levels will address the use of new technologies and financing methods by terrorists. It is a topmost priority to address the resilience of those non-State actors in the face of their use of finances from various sources. The African Union and the United Nations, particularly through the United Nations Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, will continue to support and push for predictable, sustainable, flexible and adequate financing for peace support operations, particularly in countering terrorism. The swift activation of resolution 2719 (2023) will be a significant step forward for the African Union in its counter-terrorism initiatives. Allow me to recognize the efforts of His Excellency Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, in his capacity as African Union champion for combating terrorism. Algeria continues to lead advocacy in relation to all AU efforts dedicated to combating that scourge. We are also pleased that the Peace and Security Council of the AU and the three African members of the Security Council and Guyana continue to engage regularly under the Oran Process to renew African leadership that will defeat this ideology of hate and its killing machine. In conclusion, robust and collective urgent action must be our North Star, to serve as a guiding light in combating the pervasive, persistent global threat posed by terrorism. We have reached a turning point in the fight against that scourge, given that Africa must not become the epicentre of global terrorism. Terrorism is antithetical to our hard-won independence. It is necessary that we defeat that scourge

I thank Mr. Adeoye for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Djinnit. Mr. Djinnit: I would like to commend the Algerian presidency for prioritizing the challenge of combating terrorism in Africa on the Council’s agenda this month, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on that critical issue. I am also grateful to the presidency for the opportunity to make a presentation from a civil society perspective. To begin, allow me to state the obvious: nothing is more valuable to the African people than their security. However, that security has been severely affected by internal conflicts, in particular those with ethnic dimensions that arose in the early 1990s, resulting in grave human rights violations and humanitarian crises. Those challenges have been further compounded by the rise of terrorism. Over the years, terrorism in Africa has grown in scale, intensity and complexity, with devastating impacts on security, economic stability and social cohesion. More recently, attacks have become more frequent and larger in scale and have spread to previously unaffected regions. The attacks have had devastating consequences, including widespread human rights abuses, gender-based violence, mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure and erosion of trust in Governments and institutions. Furthermore, terrorism has disrupted trade, tourism and investment, significantly hindering economic development. While there has been a recent trend of targeting security structures and personnel, civilian populations, in particular women and youth, remain the primary victims. Rural communities and border areas are particularly vulnerable, given their limited access to State protection and services. Terrorism, which is fuelled by governance challenges, poverty, political instability, conflicts, marginalization and external interference, requires a comprehensive and integrated approach. That approach must combine security, governance, and socioeconomic measures, with a strong focus on prevention and addressing systemic inequalities. It should enable marginalized communities to reject extremist narratives, ensure that military responses minimize harm to civilians, and promote accountability and justice for victims. Furthermore, the transborder and spreading nature of terrorism in Africa, its links to global extremist groups and, in some cases, its association with local militias involved in internal conflicts make robust regional and international cooperation essential for effective counter-terrorism efforts. On governance, a strong State presence across territories is crucial, while local authorities must be empowered with adequate resources to play an active role in preventing extremism. Their proximity to communities places them in a unique position to address local grievances and foster resilience. However, managing vast territories, particularly in border regions, remains a significant challenge for many African countries. Difficult access to desert and forest areas, coupled with limited transborder cooperation, further complicates those efforts. In regions affected by terrorism, we have seen that when civilians stood against terrorism and felt protected by their State and its defence and security structures, While the primary responsibility for protecting populations from terrorism lies with States and their defence and security forces, civil society organizations (CSOs) play a critical complementary role. CSOs focus their efforts on addressing the root causes of terrorism, mitigating its impact on communities and promoting accountability and justice for victims. Despite limited resources, restricted access and inherent risks, civil society organizations actively contribute to fostering community resilience, implementing counter-radicalization programmes, facilitating rehabilitation and community reintegration and ensuring that all segments of society, particularly women and youth, are included in counter-terrorism strategies. They also work to combat narratives that stigmatize specific ethnic or religious groups. The role of civil society is adequately reflected in the counter-terrorism frameworks adopted by the African Union and the United Nations. The African Union has developed strategies and mechanisms to address the common terrorism threat. The various initiatives taken by the African Union reflect the determination of its member States to collectively address the threat of terrorism on the continent. However, limited capacity, insufficient resources and political instability in some countries hinder the effectiveness of those efforts. Given that Africa is currently the region most affected by terrorism globally, I hope that the Council will explore sustainable and predictable ways to strengthen Africa’s capacity and resource base to combat terrorism and protect its populations more effectively.

I thank Mr. Djinnit for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria. My first words are ones of special thanks and deep appreciation to our briefers: the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed; the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye; and, last but not least, the Senior Advisor at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Ambassador Said Djinnit. Let me start by echoing others’ alarming assessments about the mounting and ever-increasing threat of terrorism in Africa. While that threat has substantially declined in other parts of the world, it has exponentially increased in our continent. The figures depicting the most recent trends of terrorism in Africa leave no room for interpretation. The figures indicate that throughout the past decade, Africa has witnessed a deeply shocking 400 per cent increase in terrorist attacks and a 237 per cent rise in terrorism-related deaths. They also reveal that in the first nine months of the year 2024 alone, Africa was hit by over 3,200 terrorist attacks, claiming more than 13,000 lives. Furthermore, the figures demonstrate that the global terrorism epicentre has shifted to the Sahel region, a region that currently accounts for more than 48 per cent of the world’s terrorism-related deaths, compared to just 1 per cent in 2007. Finally, the figures suggest that from the Sahel region, terrorism continues to spread to other African parts and areas, most notably eastwards and southwards, with the Central African region serving as a bridge to those movements. In sum, this is the new reality in Africa, where terrorism has become the number one threat to peace, security and development. Behind that reality, there are so many tragic human stories, so many torn families and so many devastated communities and, above all, a threatened future of a whole continent. That is the backdrop against which Algeria continues to fulfil its duties at the continental level, in its capacity as the African Union Champion in combating terrorism and violent extremism, a noble assignment that African Heads of State and Government bestowed upon His Excellency President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. That is also the backdrop against which Algeria has taken the initiative of convening today’s meeting to loudly sound the alarm about the critical situation created by the expansion of terrorism in Africa. Our aim is none other than to stress the urgent need to revive global interest in seriously tackling that scourge and to reignite international momentum in order to do so. In sounding the alarm, we stand firm in our belief that what Africa is facing is not a local threat. It is, instead, a global threat, one that knows no borders and to which no one can be considered to be immune. Sooner or later, what Africa is facing will have wide-ranging ramifications that will be felt terribly, far beyond the affected African regions and far beyond the whole continent. And last but not least, what Africa is facing requires a new approach based on a renewed international commitment and a revitalized global engagement to effectively assist those in need and to urgently stop the threat from expanding before it is too late. Such belief does not come out of nowhere. It comes from Algeria’s bitter yet successful experience in the fight against that scourge. Sadly, Algeria knows the reality of terrorism. Algeria faced terrorism alone in the 1990s, when others deliberately chose to look away. Eventually, Algeria defeated terrorism thanks to the strength of its institutions, to the comprehensiveness of its response and, most importantly, to the unity, to the resilience and to the resolve of its people. Drawing from that experience, I would like to conclude my remarks with three fundamental messages. First, the current trajectory is unsustainable. The international community should not allow terrorism to continue undermining Africa’s path to peace and prosperity. It should not accept a future in which the continent’s rich potential remains hostage to fear and violence. Secondly, we need to think differently and to act decisively, with the aim of addressing both the manifestations of terrorism and its root causes, while fully taking into account the great capacity for adaptation that the scourge continues to display. Development and security responses must go hand in hand to ensure that we collectively address the issue in question in a comprehensive, coherent and integrated manner. Thirdly, we need strong African leadership supported by efficient international partnerships, including between the African Union and the United Nations. African The international community should not leave Africa alone in this fight. Africa’s success will be a global success. Its failure will be detrimental to us all. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. I call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone.

I thank the Algerian presidency of the Security Council for convening this high-level open debate on countering terrorism in Africa. I also thank Her Excellency Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union; and Mr. Said Djinnit, Senior Advisor to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, for their valuable insights on this critical issue. In the light of the recent heinous terrorist attacks in the Point Triple area of Benin, which resulted in numerous casualties, I express our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Benin. Regrettably, terrorism and violent extremism have escalated dramatically across Africa in the past decade, with the Sahel and part of West Africa now recognized as the new epicentre of terrorist activity. We recall the Secretary-General’s nineteenth report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh) to international peace and security (S/2024/583) and his report on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (S/2024/871). Both reports underscore the expansion of terrorist groups in the Sahel, leading to substantial casualties and undermining regional stability. The terrorist threat in Africa not only directly affects the lives of those in the region, but it also poses a significant challenge to international peace and security, creating complex obstacles to sustainable development worldwide. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by those threats, bearing the brunt of insecurity and inequality. Additionally, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in kidnappings for ransom and hostage-taking as terrorist financing tactics. Sierra Leone unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and is fully committed to combating and supporting efforts to defeat that scourge, regardless of who the perpetrators may be. Terrorist groups are increasingly adept at forming alliances and exploiting existing grievances, conflicts, poverty and unemployment. They take advantage of ungoverned spaces and the vulnerabilities of porous borders, through which arms, drugs, explosives, funds and people move largely unchecked. Despite being signatories to the Algiers Peace Agreement, both JNIM and the Cadre Stratégique Permanent pour la Défense du Peuple de l’Azawad remain active in Mali, carrying out fewer but deadlier attacks. In the Lake Chad basin, insurgent attacks replicating the Boko Haram tactics have heightened concerns about a broader relapse into violence. As Nigeria continues to face the Boko Haram insurgency, there is a growing risk of the conflict spilling over into other coastal States. The insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, driven by Islamist militants aiming to establish an Islamic State, is also deeply troubling. The violence has displaced countless civilians and exacerbated the region’s humanitarian crisis. The Council is fully seized of the threat posed by Al-Shabaab to Somalia and the East African region. Addressing the security, economic and governance challenges posed by terrorism in Africa requires multidimensional, African-led solutions with global support. I would like to offer a few reflections on this matter. First, we must address the root causes of terrorism by acknowledging the socioeconomic challenges faced by the continent, such as the lack of inclusive, people-centred policymaking. We need to strengthen governance structures and develop processes that promote meaningful participation from all stakeholders in decision-making. We must also implement non-kinetic responses that address the pressing issues of poverty, youth unemployment, drugs and transnational crime, poor service delivery, human rights abuses and corruption. In regions such as West Africa and the Sahel, where youth comprise the largest demographic, it is crucial to rebuild the social contract and invest in young people’s potential, ensuring that they can create and thrive in inclusive environments. We must combat the disillusionment that drives thousands of young people to join terrorist groups, offering them an alternative path of hope and opportunity through development, community-building and engagement. In doing so, we must prioritize the needs of women and girls, who are often the most affected by insecurity and marginalization. Secondly, while the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the challenges posed by terrorism demand responses tailored to local contexts, with essential roles for regional and subregional institutions. The African Union has made significant strides in addressing terrorism on the continent, including the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in 2022, the operationalization of the African Union Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism and the development of a comprehensive continental strategic plan of action on countering terrorism. At the subregional level, our commitment to eradicating terrorism in West Africa remains steadfast, including through the ongoing operationalization of the counter-terrorism plan of action. We also acknowledge the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as outlined in the final communiqué of the sixty-sixth ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government of 15 December 2024, which notes with concern the continued challenges to security and stability in the region fuelled by the activities of terrorist We continue to note with concern the disengagement with ECOWAS and the security vacuum created by the closure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). We also take note of the dissolution of the Group of Five for the Sahel and the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States and welcome concerted efforts to strengthen collaborative mechanisms between the Alliance and the wider West Africa region in creating inclusive solutions to issues such as cross-border security and counter-terrorism. There are opportunities for advancing those common objectives through the five-year memorandum of understanding between the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and ECOWAS which addresses support for institutional and human capacity-building in the region to better address the multidimensional nature of counter-terrorism. As part of Sierra Leone’s commitment to countering that grave threat, our Attorney General submitted to Parliament the bill entitled “The Counter Terrorism Act, 2024” just last week. Once enacted into law, the Act will provide for offences of terrorism and terrorism-related matters, enforcement measures on terrorist funds and other assets, the prohibition of financial support to terrorism and related issues. Sierra Leone is proud to have supported regional initiatives across Africa and been part of troop- and police-contributing countries. Thirdly, regional initiatives such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad basin, the Alliance of Sahel States, the Accra Initiative and the Nouakchott Process must receive the full support of the international community. We welcome the Security Council’s support for African Union-led peace support operations, as outlined in resolution 2719 (2023), and its readiness to consider appropriate support for those operations on a case-by-case basis. We reiterate the call for adequate, flexible, predictable and sustainable financing for African peace operations. The funding is essential for enabling peace enforcement in regions where peacekeeping efforts are diminishing. We also urge the full implementation of resolution 2457 (2019) and support for the African Union’s goal of silencing the guns on the continent. In conclusion, Sierra Leone emphasizes the importance of information-sharing and collaboration among Governments, institutions, the private sector and security actors across borders to successfully address the proliferation of terror groups and their destructive activities. Collective resources will lead to better outcomes and are critical in building our defences against terrorism. While counter-terrorism successes are often hard-won and take place behind the scenes, we have seen positive results, such as the MNJTF’s efforts to neutralize 140 extremists, arrest 57 and facilitate the surrender of 176 militants between January and September 2024. We once again call on the Security Council to use all its multilateral tools to advance peace, security and counter-terrorism efforts in Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel. The adoption of the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) provides a unique opportunity to renew our commitment to multilateralism and strive for a future free from terrorism, building a more peaceful and secure world for all.

I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia.

At the outset, I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the Algerian presidency for organizing this highly important meeting. It reflects our collective commitment to addressing the issue of terrorism, which constitutes a grave threat to international peace and Terrorism in Africa is not merely a security threat. It is a highly complex phenomenon that affects our countries’ stability and our peoples’ future. But our continent is not standing idly by and is not silent. Africa has recently been launching pioneering initiatives and putting forward creative solutions. It is time for us to tell our story and to highlight the successes and experiences that have demonstrated the effectiveness of African solutions all over the continent. Twenty years ago, we established the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre, which epitomizes Africa’s resolve to confront this problem with local, African solutions. Through initiatives such as the Nouakchott Process we have enhanced intelligence coordination and joint operations in the Sahel and the Sahara, while the Accra Initiative has become an effective platform for addressing organized crime and halting the spread of terrorism in West Africa. I would like to share the experience of my country, Somalia, which has been on the front lines in countering terrorism in the Horn of Africa. In the past two years the Somali Government, in cooperation with our regional and international allies, has been able to recover vast areas of territory that are home to more than 3 million people, and which were under the control of the Al-Shabaab and Da’esh groups, two of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in Africa. We adopted a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars — ideological measures, military operations and steps to block funding for terrorism. On the financial front, we succeeded in closing more than 500 accounts that were used to finance terrorist activities inside and outside the country. All illegal checkpoints have been dismantled. They were used by Al-Shabaab to impose illegal taxes, and those responsible for collecting funds for Al-Shabaab have been arrested. In addition, the Somali Parliament has enacted legislation aimed at closing legal loopholes that could be exploited to support terrorist activities and enhancing transparency and accountability. Such measures reflect the Somali Government’s commitment to enhancing the rule of law and degrading the financial capabilities of extremist groups, which in turn contributes to restoring security and stability. On the ideological front, we know that terrorist organizations have misrepresented Islam to achieve their goals, thereby attracting many young people. In that regard, we organized a national conference of religious leaders and some 300 religious scholars that resulted in the establishment of a consensus on a single approach, exposing extremist ideologies and refuting the terrorist groups’ erroneous claims. Religious scholars issued fatwas — religious opinions — that demonstrate the falsity of such interpretations and show that the acts of terrorists have nothing to do with Islam. The fatwas have helped to rectify mistaken notions and have undermined terrorist groups’ efforts to recruit young people, promoting correct interpretations of Islam based on moderation and mercy. On the military front, our forces have continued their decisive counter-terrorism operations, especially against Da’esh and Al-Shabaab, and have made tangible progress in restoring security and stability. In the past two years Somali forces have been able to liberate approximately half of the territory that was under Al-Shabaab’s control, and State sovereignty has been restored in those areas. As part of our commitment to achieving stability, our efforts have not been confined to military operations. We also focus on providing basic services to people in the liberated areas, including educational and health services and infrastructure, in order to ensure a return to normal life and promote trust between citizens and State institutions. First, we link development to security. Extremism thrives in an environment of poverty and unemployment. That is why sustainable development must be at the core of our counter-terrorism strategies. In that context, it is important to reform the international financial architecture to support our development goals. It is unacceptable that in 2024 Africa had to allocate $163 billion to service its debts instead of being able to use those resources to improve stability and development. Secondly, we must ensure sustainable financing for peace. The Council’s adoption of resolution 2719 (2023), which allows African Union peacekeeping operations to be financed from the United Nations budget by up to 75 per cent, is a historic step. However, it will be important to ensure that that framework is fully implemented. That is the key to ensuring the sustainability of African efforts to counter terrorism. Thirdly, we must enhance cooperation between African institutions and United Nations mechanisms, while maintaining African leadership. African solutions are the most appropriate to address African challenges, but they need to be enhanced through just international partnerships that support our capacities without compromising our sovereignty. The experience of Somalia has proven that by combining military, economic and ideological measures it is possible to achieve tangible and effective results. Despite the great challenges, our commitment to the Silencing the Guns initiative remains steadfast. Our vision of a prosperous and secure African continent is the driving force behind our efforts. We believe that African solutions is the only way to achieve our collective security, and that is what unites us. Our strength stems from our unity, and our success hinges on our commitment to our principles and common goals.

I would like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Attaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, and his delegation for their impeccable organization of this meeting. I also extend our gratitude to the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed; the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr. Bankole Adeoye; and Ambassador Said Djinnit for their valuable contributions to this dialogue. Panama has come to this meeting to reiterate its firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Terrorism is a scourge that knows no borders and that is currently especially affecting the African continent. That threat, far from being an isolated problem, is a global challenge that undermines international peace and security, exacerbating structural weaknesses and hindering the progress of nations. We understand that many States are forced to allocate significant resources to the fight against terrorism, diverting critical funds that could be used for social services and community development programmes. That reality underscores the urgent need for a balanced and sustainable approach that addresses not only the symptoms, but also the structural roots of the problem. Terrorism does not arise in a vacuum. Its spread is fuelled by a complex web of factors — socioeconomic inequality, political exclusion, institutional weakness and However, it is not all discouraging. We are encouraged to see significant progress through regional initiatives in Africa, such as the Abuja process, the Accra Initiative and the Multinational Joint Task Force. The continued support of the United Nations through its Office of Counter-Terrorism has also been important. Those efforts, while commendable, need to be sustained and expanded with international support through a comprehensive, clear and predictable continental strategy. In that context, my country now calls for a preventive approach that tackles the roots of the problem. As underlined in the joint communiqué of the most recent annual joint consultative meeting between the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the members of the Security Council, we must prioritize education, youth employment and community empowerment programmes. Those efforts must be supported by public-private partnerships and aligned with Agenda 2063 for sustainable development in Africa. Exclusively repressive responses, when inappropriate, risk exacerbating radicalization and compromising long-term goals. It is therefore imperative to support African countries in their efforts to implement strategies that are inclusive and sustainable. The active engagement of community leaders, women, young persons, the private sector and the media are essential to counter extremist narratives and strengthen social cohesion. In particular, we want to recognize the critical role of women in the early detection of radicalization and community reconciliation. Ensuring their full participation in rehabilitation and reintegration efforts is not only a matter of rights, but an indispensable strategy to achieve sustained results. Panama reaffirms its commitment to international resolutions and strategies that reinforce the normative frameworks of the fight against terrorism, especially the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We urge Member States to avoid politicizing the fight and to strengthen the link between sustainable development and security. Peace will not be possible if we do not comprehensively address insecurity, exclusion and the underlying inequalities. Panama reaffirms its solidarity with African countries, convinced that political commitment, the strengthening of local resilience and international cooperation are not only financial terms, but also that, through the exchange of information and the creation of national capacities, they will become fundamental pillars for advancing towards a more secure and peaceful continent. Finally, Panama would like to call for a redoubling of efforts to strengthen financial systems, improve the detection of suspicious transactions and cooperate closely with the relevant international bodies in that area. Panama reiterates its willingness to work hand in hand with the Member States and all interested parties to contribute their voice and commitment to a common cause.

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Minister, and the Algerian delegation for their leadership in convening this very important open debate today and for Algeria’s leadership role in countering terrorism in Africa, under the leadership of President Tebboune. I would also like to thank Her Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, and the other briefers, including Commissioner Adeoye and Mr. Djinnit, for their valuable insights. We welcome the For the past four decades, Pakistan has been at the forefront of the fight against global terrorism. We have paid a heavy price with more than 80,000 casualties and enormous damage to our economy. After successfully suppressing Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups within our borders, Pakistan continues to confront terrorist groups, such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban and Da’esh, operating from safe havens across our borders. The global terrorism landscape has evolved dramatically since the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001). According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, the terrorism epicentre has now shifted from the Middle East to the central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for more than 50 per cent of all deaths from terrorism globally. Terrorist groups are operating with increasing impunity in ungoverned spaces, including in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Cabo Delgado, with Burkina Faso and Mali among the three most affected countries. While the core of Al-Qaida was decimated in Afghanistan, largely due to Pakistan’s efforts, several of Al-Qaida’s subsidiaries have emerged elsewhere, including in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Da’esh was decimated in Syria and Iraq, but its franchises have emerged in Afghanistan and the Sahel. Let me just underline that nothing is Islamic about these groups. Terrorism has no religion, and it must not be projected as such. The most recent report (S/2024/556) of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, details the vast nature of the global threat posed by these terrorist groups and their affiliates. We are all in this fight together. We must address the terrorist threat together through a comprehensive and coordinated strategy based upon the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Addressing the terrorist threat in Africa must be part of that comprehensive strategy. In that regard, we would like to make a few points. First, a regional approach is pivotal for the establishment of effective security architecture for countering terrorism. In particular, regional cooperation and engagement are vital to address the issue of cross-border terrorism. The adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) was a historic step towards providing predictable and sustainable support for AU-led peace support operations. Its effective implementation will enable African States to enforce peace and security on the African continent and give life to the quest for African solutions to African problems and the initiative of silencing the guns in Africa. We hope that the issues related to the implementation of this resolution will be resolved rapidly by the Security Council and by Africa’s partners. To that end, the Council must agree expeditiously on the financing of the AU missions. Failure to reach consensus on financing has hindered the smooth transition of AU missions in several places and the implementation of strategies to counter entities like Al-Shabaab. Secondly, we should consider how AU-led enforcement missions can be assisted in achieving their objectives with relevant equipment, training and supplementary United Nations counterparts. In our view, United Nations support will remain vital for the success of AU missions. Thirdly, the AU and its subregional organizations should explore partnerships with other regional organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the Fourthly, it is necessary to review the efficiency and impact of the Security Council’s several sanctions regimes. Often these have proved to be blunt instruments that contribute little to containing prevalent terrorist threats and often impede the socioeconomic development of the countries concerned, which is so vital to ensure effective governance and security against terrorist threats. Those sanctions regimes should be adapted to respond to the current challenges of the African countries concerned. Fifthly, we are concerned about the use of new technologies by terrorist entities, in particular, to organize online and to collaborate with transnational criminal networks to recruit and finance their activities. We must address the new cybertools of terrorism, including the dark web and cryptocurrencies, which are being utilized increasingly for radicalization campaigns, incitement to violence, terror financing, propaganda and disinformation through the social media. Sixthly, we must address the underlying reasons and root causes of terrorism in Africa. These include poverty, economic hardships, poor governance, small arms proliferation, the presence of organized criminal gangs, illicit economies, drug trafficking, resource exploitation and repeated external interventions. The promotion of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in Africa, as has been said, are critical preconditions for defeating terrorism. Pakistan’s support for the fight for stabilization in Africa dates back to the early 1990s. Our contingents have also participated for decades in peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mali, the Sudan and South Sudan. Pakistan desires to strengthen its cooperation with brotherly African States. Within the Security Council and in conjunction with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Pakistan stands ready to share its counter-terrorism experience and expertise with our African partners and to help establish the necessary institutional structures and provide capacity-building for Africa’s endeavour to restore sustainable peace and stability on the continent.

I wish to thank the Algerian presidency for convening this timely debate. I also thank Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed and our briefers — Mr. Adeoye and Mr. Djinnit — for their insights on the threat of terrorism in Africa, its drivers and ways to fight them. We also highly appreciate the first-hand testimonies of the African ministers this morning. Slovenia remains deeply concerned about the spread of terrorism across parts of Africa, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa. The growing presence, activity and consolidation of territorial control by terrorist groups is further fuelling instability and suffering. Civilian suffering is also being compounded by new technologies, including drones and other forms of remote violence. Today I would like to focus on three main issues related to strengthening leadership in our joint action. First, in today’s world, no State can defeat terrorism alone. Terrorism does not abide by, and is not restricted to, national borders. It is therefore essential endeavour to improve support and cooperation, including intelligence and information-sharing and joint border management. Slovenia supports intergovernmental platforms for security cooperation between and among all Member States. The United Nations, as well as regional organizations, Secondly, we are increasingly concerned about the rising nexus between terrorism and transnational organized criminal activities. Furthermore, we are also alarmed by the growing involvement of foreign terrorist fighters in some African regions. Highly trained foreign terrorist fighters present a number of threats. Upon returning to their countries of origin, they can boost the capabilities of local terrorist groups. They can project a wider cross-regional threat of terrorist acts being carried out. While recognizing the significant challenges owing to the lack of resources required, we believe that strengthening border control and the implementation of terrorist travel prevention programmes are vital to start tackling this issue. Thirdly, Slovenia emphasizes the importance of the long-term and sustainable effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts. They need to be comprehensive and inclusive and must address the underlying drivers of terrorism and violent extremism. That includes tackling social and economic circumstances, inequality, human rights violations and abuses, the effects of climate change and competition for natural resources, as well as intracommunal and intercommunal tensions. Terrorists exploit those factors to recruit and to spread their propaganda. To echo the Deputy Secretary-General, an indispensable part of the counter-terrorism fight is building resilient societies. In that context, access to education represents the best deterrent to recruitment. Comprehensive, whole-of-society, whole-of-government and gender-responsive approaches that comply with international law should be implemented. Close engagement with civil society, including with women’s organizations, as well as ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership, are crucial in that respect. Let me conclude by reiterating our call on all States to strengthen cooperation and extend meaningful support to the countries most affected. The fight against terrorism is an area on which States should be able to agree. In the end, no one is safe unless everyone is safe.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting. I also thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Commissioner Bankole Adeoye and Mr. Said Djinnit for their valuable insights. Africa is no longer an emerging terrorist hotspot. With terrorist groups declining in the Levant, Africa has become the global epicentre of terrorism. The alarming magnitude and the complexity of terrorist threats across the continent demand urgent, African-led and development-focused solutions. Allow me to highlight three key points in this regard. First, enhancing regional cooperation is vital to address the transnational nature of terrorism. In West Africa, terrorism is encroaching from the Sahel into coastal States. Similarly, the Lake Chad basin and Central Africa remain heavily affected by cross-border threats. Al-Shabaab continues to operate in Somalia, while Secondly, tackling organized crime and arms trafficking is crucial to disrupting terrorist networks. Terrorist networks in Africa have evolved beyond being mere affiliates of Da’esh. They now operate with considerable autonomy, forging alliances with criminal syndicates, mercenaries and local armed groups. In the Sahel, the nexus between terrorism and organized crime — including illicit arms proliferation, drug and human trafficking and illegal mining — provides terrorist groups with vital resources and operational strength. Political instability, limited governance and corruption all contribute to the rise of criminal syndicates and the spread of arms. Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks at the national level is key to addressing those challenges. Effective border control is equally vital, as highlighted in the African Union (AU) 2020 border governance strategy. Initiatives under the United Nations Joint Appeal for Counter-Terrorism in Africa also offer practical solutions. Thirdly, scaling up capacity-building efforts is essential to address the socioeconomic and environmental drivers of terrorism. Radicalization takes root in communities grappling with poverty, inequality and political exclusion. Socioeconomically deprived populations are particularly vulnerable to aggressive online recruitment by terrorist groups. Meanwhile, climate change exacerbates resource scarcity, driving competition and creating fertile ground for extremist exploitation. Therefore, peacebuilding initiatives focusing on governance, inclusive socioeconomic development and climate resilience are key to addressing those root causes. Engaging youth, women and civil society in the process will further mitigate violent extremism. Since terrorist networks are also leveraging new technologies and innovative financing, capacity-building for robust cybersecurity and collaboration with the private sector will also be necessary to curtail terrorist activity in cyberspace. As a member of both the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, Korea is committed to promoting sustainable peace in Africa. Korea contributed $8 million to the Peacebuilding Fund in 2024 and has contributed $23 million over the past decade to AU peace and security activities, including support for the AU Counter Terrorism Centre. Today Korea reaffirms its unwavering commitment to partnering with Africa, the African Union and subregional organizations to support counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Algeria for your leadership in convening this important meeting on strengthening African-led initiatives to combat terrorism. We also appreciate Today’s discussion underscores the challenges and opportunities in our collective fight against the scourge of terrorism, which continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. The alarming statistics reported by the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism in Africa and indeed the world at large, not least because of its impact on civilian populations, in particular women, girls and youth. Guyana recognizes that the fight against terrorism cannot be solely a military or security endeavour — it must be woven into the fabric of socioeconomic development. The interlinkages between poverty, inequality and marginalization and terrorism and violent extremism are undeniable. In order to address those root causes, we must prioritize socioeconomic initiatives that empower communities, enhance educational opportunities and create purposeful jobs, especially for our young people. When Africa and indeed the developing world calls for a reformed financial architecture that is development-friendly, for a global tax system that is fair and for the debt burden to be addressed, which will all allow for greater investments in the Sustainable Development Goals, those calls must be seen as being directly linked to fighting terrorism and to protecting this and future generations from being victims of terrorism, including through recruitment. Africa is the continent with the world’s largest youth population, with 400 million in the Sahel, which coincidentally is the current hotbed of terrorism, but we will reap the dividends of that demographic only if we invest in them now. Engaging youth, women and other members of civil society and marginalized groups is essential in forging resilient societies capable of resisting radicalization. Guyana commends the African Union (AU) for its robust counter-terrorism framework and advances made in tackling terrorism. Initiatives such as the establishment of the counter-terrorism unit within the African Standby Force and the operationalization of the AU special fund for counter-terrorism are concrete examples of the AU’s commitment to combat this scourge. But as you reminded us, Mr. President, we also recognize that terrorism is not confined to borders and continents and no country is immune. Terrorism is a growing global challenge to the maintenance of international peace and security and therefore requires a global response. As a result, the efforts of the African Union must be seen as a contribution to global efforts. In that context and underscoring the importance of African leadership remaining at the forefront of counter-terrorism initiatives in the region, Guyana urges the international community to support the reconstruction, disengagement, reintegration and reconciliation efforts in the countries of the region confronting this scourge. That requires enhanced support to the AU by the international community, including the Security Council. In that context, Guyana proposes the following four actions. The first is sustainable funding. We call for the full and timely implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) to increase the predictability, adequacy and sustainability of funding for AU-led peace support operations, including their counter- terrorism mandates. The second is increased investment in socioeconomic development. Investments in development initiatives will not only bolster security efforts but also support Agenda 2063 of the African Union, by promoting peace, stability and prosperity. In that effort, the focus on young people will be paramount. The third is enhanced coordination. Greater collaboration between the United Nations and African mechanisms, including the Accra Initiative, is essential. The last action is combating terrorist financing. We must intensify efforts to disrupt the financial networks that underpin terrorism and transnational organized crime. Combating illicit financial flows through coordinated global efforts is crucial to ending the cycle of violence and insecurity. In conclusion, Guyana stands firmly behind African-led solutions that respond to the region’s security and development objectives. We reaffirm our commitment to working collaboratively with our African and international partners to build a safer and more secure world for all.

I thank the Algerian delegation for convening today’s meeting. I also thank the Deputy Secretary-General, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Mr. Djinnit for their briefings. The terrorist threat on the African continent is expanding. Terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida and Da’esh continue to reconfigure themselves and strengthen their foothold throughout the continent. In the Sahel, which remains the epicentre of that threat, Da’esh and the Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin are able to extend their attacks to the Gulf of Guinea, as recently occurred in Benin. The terrorist threat is increasing around Lake Chad, in the Horn of Africa, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in northern Mozambique. There is also an intensification of the links between terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and environmental crime. To be effective, our efforts must be part of a comprehensive strategy that also makes it possible to address the causes of the threat. In many cases, military action is necessary to protect civilians and defend vulnerable targets. But exclusively military solutions are not enough. We must strengthen the resilience of communities in conjunction with the States of the region. That requires us to address the socioeconomic factors that contribute to terrorist recruitment, including poverty, inequality and climate change. We must preserve human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law and strengthen governance structures. We must also fight against disinformation and the dissemination of extremist content on the Internet. The work of African regional institutions is essential. The African Union and regional organizations, including the Economic Community of West African States, play a key role. France supports the implementation of African peace operations under the new framework offered by resolution 2719 (2023). They will make it possible to strengthen the fight against terrorism by African States, with the support of the United Nations. France welcomes the hybrid implementation of that new framework in the Somali context of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, in order to support the Somali Government in its fight against Al-Shabaab. We encourage Security Council members to endorse that approach by 15 May. The development of African capacities to combat terrorism is essential. In that regard, I welcome the Jacqueville International Counter-Terrorism Academy, launched in 2017 by the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and France, which develops training courses that it provides to executives from all over the continent. The Accra Initiative, which allows the countries of the region to exchange intelligence, is another illustration of that partnership model. The United Nations provides a coherent framework for the fight against terrorism, including the sanctions put in place by the Council, the analyses and recommendations of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the capacity-building programmes conducted by the Office of Counter-Terrorism. France will continue to support those programmes for African countries, in line with the global approach to combating terrorism and in accordance with human rights, fundamental freedoms and multilateralism.

Allow me to thank Algeria for convening this important meeting. I am grateful to Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed, Commissioner Adeoye and Mr. Djinnit for their briefings today. I will make three broad points. First, as the Deputy Secretary-General said, the threat to African States and societies from terrorism is increasing. Terrorist groups control swathes of territory across the Sahel, wreaking havoc on local communities. Despite the heroic efforts against them, Al-Shabaab continues to disrupt the lives of Somali and Kenyan citizens, and Da’esh affiliates remain the deadliest actors in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. While hard security interventions are one vital component of counter-terrorism work, they will not solve the problem alone. Instead, counter- terrorism work must be embedded in a broader political approach to reduce the likelihood of recruitment into terrorist groups. Secondly, improving governance, reducing poverty and tackling climate change are critical to addressing the underlying drivers of terrorism. To be effective, those efforts must involve the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups. The United Kingdom is committed to working with African partners to build resilience against threats from terrorism and to addressing the root causes that drive conflict and instability. That support includes a $60 million package of support in East Africa to regional and Somali-led efforts to counter terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab and Da’esh affiliates. Thirdly, addressing the global nature of terrorism requires a multidimensional approach with the support of all relevant United Nations agencies, regional organizations, governments and civil society partners. The United Kingdom welcomes the continued efforts of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel to facilitate dialogue between States in West Africa and the Sahel. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy places an important priority on promoting human rights and inclusive governance. We encourage regional organizations, including the African Union, to continue deepening coordination, including through renewing the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force. The United Kingdom also welcomes resolution 2767 (2024), authorizing the deployment of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia to tackle Al-Shabaab and Da’esh. We must all now come together to implement that resolution and ensure that the Mission is fully funded to fulfil its vital mandate. In conclusion, the United Kingdom is committed to working with African partners to strengthen resilience against terrorism and build security and prosperity across the continent.

First of all, I would like to thank Algeria for taking the initiative to convene this important meeting. I welcome Minister for Foreign Affairs Attaf to New York to preside over this meeting, to New York. I thank Recent years have seen the rapid resurgence of global terrorism. The intensification of conflicts, political turmoil and continued economic downturn in some African countries have allowed terrorist forces in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Lake Chad to sow chaos. The shadow of terrorism looms over Africa, a vibrant continent, which is full of potential. This meeting focusing on counter-terrorism in Africa is most timely and most necessary. China appreciates the efforts made by African countries in combating terrorism. Helping Africa to maintain peace and stability is a priority in China’s cooperation with African countries. China stands ready to work with the international community to help Africa to tackle the challenges posed by terrorism. I would like to emphasize the following points. First, we must insist on zero-tolerance for terrorism. In the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), which was adopted by all countries, we pledged to strive for a future without terrorism. Sadly, in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, terrorist attacks claimed more than 8,000 civilian lives in Africa. Recently, serious terrorist attacks took place in Benin and other countries. Some African terrorist organizations are increasingly colluding with those in other regions, creating a cross- regional threat. It must be emphasized that, irrespective of the banner under which the terrorist organizations are operating and whether they are in Africa or elsewhere, terrorism should be firmly opposed and resolutely fought. Double standards on counter-terrorism, selective counter-terrorism and even the use of terrorist forces as a tool for geopolitical self-interest will eventually backfire. Secondly, we must enhance African countries’ counter-terrorism capacity, as the lack of that capacity has been a problem for many of them. To that end, the international community should step up its support in the form of equipment, intelligence, human resources and logistics. The United Nations and its partners should strengthen cooperation with regional organizations such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States and support Africa in strengthening its counter-terrorism institutions and undertaking more counter-terrorism cooperation projects. The funding shortfall is the greatest counter- terrorism challenge facing Africa. We call on traditional donors to contribute more to supporting African countries’ counter-terrorism efforts. We welcome the Council’s decision to authorize financing for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia under resolution 2719 (2023) so as to support the Mission in containing Al-Shabaab and other terrorist forces. Thirdly, we should help Africa to eliminate the root causes of terrorism. Many African countries have great assets when it comes to human and natural resources. Colonial plunder and other historical factors have, however, meant that they have long been at the bottom of the global value chain and mired in poverty, which provides a breeding ground for terrorism. China firmly believes that Africa is a continent of promise and development. The international community should support Africa in advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063, prioritize development in its cooperation with Africa and help Africa to develop its economies, eradicate poverty and improve livelihoods. Particular attention must be afforded to helping African youth through education and employment opportunities so that they become a positive force for change and are not lured or recruited by terrorist organizations. Fourthly, we should make good use of emerging technologies to support African countries in countering terrorism. Emerging technologies are on the rise. They are a double-edged sword — they can benefit humankind but are also open to abuse. All parties should strengthen the regulation of emerging technologies to China and Africa form an all-weather community, which has a shared future in the new era and is an important force, leading the global South in solidarity and cooperation. At the beginning of the new year, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Wang Yi, visited African countries, continuing a 35-year tradition of China’s first overseas trip of the year being to Africa, which proves once again that China is Africa’s most credible friend and partner. China will continue to implement the 10 partnership initiatives, especially the partnership initiative for common security, as announced by President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last September. China will strengthen its cooperation with Africa in the area of peace and security and support Africa in scaling up its counter-terrorism capacity. China will implement a ¥1 billion grant of military assistance to Africa, continue to support the building of an African standby force and rapid response force, help African countries train military talents and police and law enforcement personnel and support African countries in carrying out peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations. We would like to share with Africa advanced technology and experience in the field of counter-terrorism, provide expertise and support to the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre in Algiers and carry out more counter-terrorism projects with the China-United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund. China will work with African partners to make good use of the credit line of funding support in the amount of ¥360 billion announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to help African countries develop their economies, eliminate the root causes of insecurity and achieve long-term peace and security through development and revitalization. China is ready to work with all countries to continue to make its positive contributions in effectively addressing the threat of global terrorism and realizing a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Let me start by thanking Algeria for convening this meeting on such an important topic. Algeria has long played a leading role in the fight against terrorism, including as an African Union (AU) Champion. Denmark commends Minister Attaf’s leadership. I also thank Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed, Ambassador Bankole and Mr. Djinnit for their briefings. Terrorism represents one of the gravest threats facing the international community. Its reach is global, and our collective security is at risk. Terrorism not only threatens stability and sustainable development, but the lives of millions around the world. In Africa, terrorist activities are expanding. From the Sahel to the Great Lakes region to the Horn of Africa, millions of innocent civilians are suffering at the hands of that deadly scourge. The Sahel region is now home to some of the most violent terror groups in operation, accounting for almost half of all deaths from terrorism globally, as we heard several times today. In other conflict-affected areas, terrorists exploit the absence of State presence to both embed and spread. The implications of those safe havens do not stop at national borders. They stretch far beyond the shores of Africa, undermining the global fight against terror. First, unless we address the root causes of terrorism, we resign ourselves to addressing the same security challenges over and over again. Preventive action is the most effective action. That means taking a cross-sectoral and whole-of-society approach. It means including and harnessing the potential of women, young people and marginalized groups. It means disrupting a rigid, often male-dominated, militarized and over-securitized status quo. It also means addressing the negative consequences of climate change, which lead to vulnerabilities and grievances. Put simply, it means investing in peace. Socioeconomic development and security initiatives in Africa must go hand in hand. Such actions will support the achievement of the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative and the broader Agenda 2063, which we believe will contribute enormously to countering violent extremism. Through the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security on the African continent, the United Nations and the AU have an important role to play. We see scope for enhanced collaboration, including through resolution 2719 (2023), which we believe is an important instrument to support more financially sustainable and robust peace support operations. My second point is that comprehensive strategies and approaches matter, but they are not an end in themselves. Guidelines do not stop terrorists if they remain on the page. We must keep our overarching goal of real-world impact in front of mind at all times. In that regard, Denmark welcomes the forthcoming AU Continental Strategic Plan of Action to effectively fight against terrorism across Africa. That will be an important instrument in operationalizing the vision of the 2022 Extraordinary Malabo Summit on Terrorism. We look forward to its effective implementation. Adapting to the cross-border nature of this threat is key to combating it. Africa has a strong network of regional and subregional organizations. They can — and should — play a critical role. That goes for the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and others. It also goes for such initiatives as the Accra Initiative and the Nouakchott Process. Similarly, there is a need for increased information sharing and collaboration among Governments and security actors. My third point is that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals, but complementary and mutually reinforcing ones. To be clear, it is in the national security interest of all of us to tackle terrorism in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Sitting at this table, it is up to us to show that that is not just rhetoric. Counter-terrorism measures must never be used as a coercive political tool to repress the human rights and freedoms of political dissidents or to shrink civic space. And neither can we accept that counter-terrorism operations become an arbitrary obstacle for the delivery of humanitarian aid or lead to the criminalization of aid. Therefore, in conclusion, the Council’s response to terror attacks follow a familiar pattern. We condemn, we console and we offer our solidarity. That is important, but it is not enough. Holistic approaches and strengthened partnerships are needed to prevent and to counter the spread of terrorism. That is true for Africa and across the globe. Fighting terrorism in Africa and addressing its root causes are priorities for Denmark. Our commitment is steadfast. We will continue to support our African partners politically, financially and operationally through capacity-building and information-sharing. We will not relent until the threat of terror is eradicated.

Let me start by thanking you, Mr. President, for your leadership, and allow me to express our appreciation to Algeria for convening this Terrorism and violent extremism are spreading rapidly across the African continent, especially in the Sahel and West Africa, constituting a substantial threat to international peace and security, including maritime security, which is vital to global trade. Terrorist and violent extremist groups with links to transnational organized crime are exploiting internal conflicts, weak governance, climate change and socioeconomic instability, leading to further degradation of fundamental values and freedoms. Spillover effects pose a risk of deterioration and despair, while inflammatory propaganda fuels the spread and intensification of terrorist acts. Those groups are committing systematic human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence, exacerbating further violence and extremism. Those alarming dynamics dictate the need to develop a holistic approach through stronger international and regional alignment. Counter-terrorism efforts require enhanced cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union (AU) and other subregional organizations. In that context, the reinforcement of coordination initiatives between the United Nations and the African Union is of pivotal importance. Greece extends its unequivocal support to its African partners in their fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Allow me to highlight three key points. First, African-led counter-terrorism initiatives play a core role in mitigating the spread of terrorist propaganda. We express our strong support for regional efforts, such as the Abuja Declaration, the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative, the Accra Initiative, the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community. Enhanced multilateral cooperation on counter- terrorism and robust border security among States, especially across the Sahel and West Africa, are essential to tackle the expansion of terrorism and violent extremism. Secondly, joint efforts by the AU and the United Nations in various peacekeeping missions set an example of how AU-United Nations cooperation extends beyond traditional peacekeeping. We welcome the incorporation into peacekeeping missions of a focused and comprehensive approach on counter-terrorism strategies, stabilization and long-term capacity-building efforts across Africa. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, an AU-led Mission in Somalia, is aimed at supporting the Somali Government in its fight against terrorism, while the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic addresses, among other tasks, the threats posed by armed groups linked to terrorism. At the same time, we remain concerned about the security and peacebuilding vacuum currently being experienced as a result of the drawdown of missions such as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Greece reiterates its deep appreciation to all countries that contribute troops to the peacekeeping forces and stresses the importance of the missions having the necessary capabilities to fulfil their mandate and promote the safety and security of the United Nations peacekeepers. Thirdly, international law, including human rights law, provides the framework for the application of measures, strategies and policies to counter the financing of terrorism. Strengthening cross-border coordination, along with capacity- building programmes, are an important step in building networks to monitor and block terrorist financing, as well as to identify, freeze and recover assets linked to sanctioned individuals and entities operating in Africa.

I thank you, Mr. President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, for convening this discussion. We also thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, African Union Commissioner Bankole Adeoye and Mr. Said Djinnit for their insights. The United States is deeply concerned about the increasing number and lethality of terrorist attacks in Africa. We urge the members of the Council to take action and agree to listing more Africa-based Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida affiliates in the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities so they will be subject to a worldwide asset freeze. We also urge Member States to support the designation of additional individuals in the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 2713 (2023) concerning Al-Shabaab. Terrorists only stand to benefit from the Council’s inaction, particularly since money continues to be the lifeblood of terrorists. We should bolster our efforts to stem the flow of funds to terrorists and avoid politicizing sanctions listing proposals. The United States calls for action to address the growing relationship between the Houthis in Yemen and Al-Shabaab and other malign actors in Somalia, as documented in reporting by the Panel of Experts on Yemen established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) (see S/2024/731). The trade in arms and exchange of tactical and operational expertise between those groups will negatively impact security in Africa, the Middle East and far beyond. We acknowledge the African Union’s efforts to strengthen its counter- terrorism architecture. When security efforts respect the rule of law and human rights, it builds trust in the police and military that is vital to undermining terrorist recruitment. Whereas, if a population suffers human rights violations at the hands of security services and when Governments fail to provide services, civilians may turn to violent extremists for protection, the mediation of conflicts and the provision of justice. It is also essential that members of civil society, particularly women and youth, meaningfully participate in the development and implementation of counter-terrorism measures, given their unique understanding of the impact and risks of terrorism. They are able to help Governments make counter-terrorism efforts more effective. We must collectively do more to track terrorist recruitment in Africa and the movement of foreign terrorist fighter recruits within, to and from the African continent. Moving forward, the United States understands that business as usual is a failing strategy to address the deep systemic challenges the African continent faces from terrorism. We look forward to the opportunity to work with willing African partners, the international community and the Council to develop pragmatic solutions that will effectively counter the growing terrorist threat.

We would like thank Algeria for organizing this meeting on such an important issue. We are also grateful to all our briefers. The security situation on the African continent remains complicated. We are witnessing a further increase in the activity of terrorist and criminal groups. Almost We are seeing the swift expansion of international terrorism, which is something that began in African countries following the Western military aggression against Libya in 2011. At that time, under the pretext of the responsibility to protect concept, the Libyan State and economy were shattered. Those tragic events created fertile ground for strengthening and spreading the terrorists’ capacity on the continent. Today Western States are making statements about the so-called conditions conducive to terrorism in Africa and remaining silent about the fact that their own illegal actions and failures are at the top of the list of actions conducive to those conditions. The seriousness the threats African States are facing can hardly be overemphasized. Tensions persist in the north-east of Nigeria owing to the activity of Boko Haram terrorists, as well as in Chad, whose authorities not only have to confront terrorists but also must address the issue of many refugees fleeing to Chad from neighbouring Sudan, where a protracted military standoff continues. In the Horn of Africa, Al-Shabaab is undermining Somalia’s statehood and regional stability. Al-Shabaab has been relentlessly building up its capacity and influence, conducting regular raids and controlling vast areas in close proximity to the capital. In addition, Al-Shabaab is also using propaganda and has deep coffers, which are being replenished by funds extorted in territories controlled by those insurgents and through other illegal activities. The Somali Government is doing its utmost to counter the threats posed by the terrorist group. The central Government has repeatedly carried out large-scale offensive operations against the insurgents and taken targeted measures to counter Al-Shabaab’s activities to obtain funding and spread its ideology. An important contribution to containing the terrorist threat is being made by African peacekeepers. At the end of 2024, the Security Council adopted resolution 2767 (2024) to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia with a new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The adoption process involved a clash between those who no longer wanted to fund the African peacekeepers in Somalia and those who did not want to take on new financial commitments, not even through the African Union-United Nations partnership mechanism. As a consequence, the issue of AUSSOM funding in the first half of 2025 remains unresolved, despite the statements made by traditional donors and partners of Somalia that they support Africans and their aspirations. Unfortunately, that is by no means the only example of hypocrisy and double standards. They are clearly evident in the Sahel, where Mali, the Niger, Burkina Faso and other States are combating international terrorism almost single-handedly. Former colonial Powers, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, continue to impose their military presence in the region — a presence which has not been welcomed by African countries for a long time, including because the ineffectiveness of the so- called counter-terrorism operations by Western States is obvious. On that note, we welcome the policy adopted by Mali, the Niger and Burkina Faso to bolster their own forces and foster mutual coordination, including on counter- terrorism activities targeting the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and the Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, whose activities in the Liptako-Gourma area and on the border of the Gulf of Guinea States are of particular concern. We welcome the decision to establish a joint force within the Alliance in order to coordinate efforts to combat terrorist groups. Alliance servicemen are already successfully conducting joint raids on insurgent strongholds. In addition to collective measures, Alliance countries are also taking individual measures to bolster the combat readiness of their own armed forces. Today Mali, the Niger and Burkina Faso are at the forefront of the fight against terrorist groups on the continent. They deserve the full support of the international community and that of regional organizations. Nevertheless, there are still countries seeking to undermine the progress that has been achieved so far, running unscrupulous campaigns, through the media outlets they control, aimed at spreading disinformation and tarnishing the reputation of local authorities. There are also other States trying to subvert peace and security on the continent. The Kyiv regime is one such entity. The official representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, Mr. Yusov, and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Senegal, Mr. Pyvovarov, confirmed that the Kyiv regime assisted in the attack on the Malian armed forces on the border with Algeria, near Tin Zaouatène, in July 2024. I underscore that this attack was carried out by an Al-Qaida affiliate group. The response from the Sahel States was swift — they decisively condemned Ukraine’s support for international terrorism on the continent and severed diplomatic relations with it. According to French newspaper Le Monde, insurgents active in Mali were trained to operate drones and handle explosives by Ukrainian special services, both on Ukrainian territory and in terrorist-controlled areas of Mali. This is yet another narrative that illustrates the terrorist nature of the Western-backed Kyiv regime, which is acting at the behest of, under the supervision of and in close coordination with its NATO mentors. The regime is not above using outright terrorist methods. We would also like to remind everyone about information from African States and European law enforcement — the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation — regarding weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine tending to fall into the hands of criminal and terrorist groups in various regions. A thorough investigation and assessment of the role of Ukrainian and Western intelligence services in organizing and facilitating terrorist attacks is long overdue. The Russian Federation is guided by mutual respect when building relations with the countries of the region. We are closely attuned to the specific characteristics and needs of each and every State. We would like to reaffirm our willingness to develop cooperation with Africans within those formats and under conditions that Africans deem optimal. We will continue making a constructive contribution to efforts aimed at achieving stability in the region, including by offering training by Russian instructors to servicemen and law enforcement personnel. We strive to further expand Russia’s cooperation with African States, including within the framework of implementing the Declaration of the Second Russia-Africa Summit on Strengthening Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism, adopted during the Summit, held in Saint Petersburg on 27 and 28 July 2023. The approval of a joint statement on the implementation of the Declaration’s provisions at the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Sochi We attach particular importance to specialized technical cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). With terrorists trying to resuscitate the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham 2.0 on the African continent, it is important now, more than ever, to bolster the capacity of the States of the region and their law enforcement agencies, as well as to strengthen border security and combat terrorist financing. The Russian Federation has funded two key UNOCT initiatives in Africa, namely the Fusion Cells Programme, aimed at enhancing inter-agency cooperation in countering terrorism and a project aimed at preventing weapons, improvised explosive devices and drones from falling into the hands of terrorists. We welcome the positive and, most importantly, practical outcomes of the UNOCT’s work on that front. In particular, as part of the first initiative I mentioned, seven training manuals and a modular training course for analysts were developed, and training courses were held for more than 1,000 local law enforcement officers. As part of the second initiative, related to weapons, two major regional events were held on West and East Africa. The project enhanced the capacity of States of the region and deepened their knowledge about how to counter the use of weapons and improvised explosive devices by terrorists to carry out attacks. Russia provided financial support for holding the High-Level African Counter- Terrorism Meeting in Nigeria in April 2024. We are confident that the results achieved will contribute to enhancing the capacity of the States on the continent. Finally, my country is sending its best specialists as instructors to the UNOCT training centre in Rabat, where they are training African law enforcement officers on methods of countering terrorism financing and investigating terrorist crimes. We call on all States to pool their efforts in order to enhance the effectiveness and coordination of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism on the basis of the principles and norms of international law, including those enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, namely, the principles of the sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their internal affairs.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda.

I wish to begin by expressing my gratitude to His Excellency Minister Attaf for convening this timely discussion and for the invitation extended to Rwanda to be part of it. I would also like to extend our congratulations to Algeria on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January 2025. Its leadership during this critical time is greatly appreciated. We also commend Algeria and His Excellency President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for assuming the vital role of African Union (AU) champion for the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. This leadership comes at a critical time, and we must prioritize swift and decisive action in order to ensure peace and security across the continent. This meeting could not be more urgent. The spread of terrorism across Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, presents an alarming and persistent challenge. The challenges we face are multifaceted  — terrorist groups are exploiting weak governance, poverty, inequality and unresolved conflicts to expand their influence. The porous borders of many African nations and the limited capacity of security forces compound the problem. Furthermore, the lack of adequate funding and coordination among African States has hampered collective efforts to address those threats effectively. Unfortunately, the threat is no longer confined to the Sahel, and terrorism has now spread to coastal West African countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. That worrisome trend highlights the urgent need for a multilayered approach that strengthens resilience at the local, national and regional levels. Terrorism has also reached the southern part of our continent, particularly in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province, where Rwanda, at the request of the Mozambican Government, has made significant contributions to eradicate it. Since deploying our troops to Cabo Delgado in July 2021, the security situation has drastically improved. Together with our Mozambican counterparts, we have achieved the following milestones. First, terrorist strongholds in key districts such as Mocimboa da Praia, Palma and Muidumbe have been captured. Secondly, strategic infrastructure has been secured, including the critical N380 road that connects districts in the northern part of Mozambique. Thirdly, the safe return of more than 600,000 internally displaced persons has been made possible. Fourthly, basic services such as schools, markets and health centres have been restored in previously devastated areas. To consolidate those achievements, we decided to deploy an additional 2,500 troops to Mozambique, reinforcing the 1,000 troops deployed in 2021. That demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the region. Closer to Rwanda, the Great Lakes region continues to face the threat of terrorism, particularly from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ADF, identified as one of the groups responsible for the most egregious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has claimed the lives of more than 650 civilians since June 2024, including more than 200 in the Beni region alone. Despite this clear and present danger, it is appalling to see that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has chosen to divert attention from this real terrorist threat by labelling another movement, the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23), which is a group fighting to protect a persecuted Congolese community, as a terrorist organization. For several decades, the community that the M23 now defends has faced systematic marginalization, forcing many to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, where we host more than 100,000 refugees. That brings us to an important question. Who has the legitimacy to define terrorism, and which groups should be designated as terrorist organizations in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo? Can a State Member of the United Nations give itself the right to abuse the notion of terrorism for political and diplomatic gains, including vis-à-vis the Security Council? When we look at it, who can be qualified as terrorists in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, beyond the ADF? Is it the M23, a Congolese movement that is protecting a persecuted Congolese community, a victim of hate speech, or is the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC), the national army, which has embedded the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a genocidal force — not only a group that has had United Nations sanctions imposed on it, but also a movement that was designated by the United States Government in 2001 as a terrorist organization? And what do terrorist acts look like in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo? Can the protection of a persecuted Congolese We cannot hope to resolve the threat of terrorism if we fail to identify and address its true perpetrators. The international community must ensure that efforts to combat terrorism are rooted in impartiality, justice and a genuine commitment to peace. Mislabelling groups or ignoring systemic injustices only perpetuates cycles of violence and undermines the credibility of our collective actions. In that regard, Rwanda proposes the following concrete steps to strengthen African leadership in counter-terrorism efforts. First, we must significantly enhance the operational and logistical capacities of African Union peacekeeping forces and regional security architectures, such as the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force. That includes providing specialized training, modern equipment and sustainable resources to empower African forces to effectively prevent and respond to terrorist threats. Rwanda’s collaboration with Mozambique offers a compelling example. That model of bilateral cooperation underscores the potential of tailored, context- specific intervention. The Security Council and the international community should, therefore, encourage and support such arrangements, as they have proved productive in addressing terrorism challenges in some affected Member States. Secondly, counter-terrorism must be integrated with development and governance initiatives. Terrorism thrives in regions where poverty, unemployment and a lack of basic services prevail. We need to invest in sustainable development programmes that address the root causes of violent extremism. Governments must work to close governance gaps that terrorists exploit to sow discord and gain support. Thirdly, we must continue strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture. That requires ensuring that institutional frameworks are fully operational and equipped to provide timely and regional tailored responses. Mobilizing financial resources for the AU Peace Fund and other mechanisms will help to reduce dependency on external donors and reinforce Africa’s ownership of its security challenges. Fourthly, we must prioritize regional cooperation and information-sharing. African nations must establish secure channels for intelligence-gathering, enabling swift and collective responses to cross-border threats. That collaborative approach should also involve partnerships with international allies who can support capacity- building and resource mobilization. Fifthly, prevention must be at the heart of our strategy. Governments need to implement early intervention programmes to counter violent extremism, focusing on youth empowerment and community resilience. Promoting tolerance, respect for human rights and inclusion, through grassroots initiatives, will help to address the grievances that extremists exploit. Those interventions must be driven by our shared responsibility as Africans to ensure that terrorism does not derail the aspirations of our continent’s people. Rwanda remains committed to working with its regional and international partners to address this growing threat. By focusing on the root causes of terrorism, strengthening resilience and supporting African-led initiatives, we can build a safer and more secure continent for all.

I now give the floor to the Minister for External Relations of Angola. Above all, I would like to take this opportunity to commend Algeria’s pioneering role in the fight against terrorism, which, as a result of its lived experience in the matter, as you rightly pointed out in your statement, Mr. President, has had a decisive impact on the African strategy in the fight against terrorism as it stands today, including through the adoption of the 1999 Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, the 2002 plan of action and the creation of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, which is based in Algiers. (spoke in English) We have a timely and unique opportunity to focus on a scourge that constitutes a matter of great concern given its growth in Africa. Within a few decades, it has gone from a largely unremarkable and limited phenomenon to a problem that is expanding throughout several regions of our continent with increasing levels of violence. Today there is consensus that terrorism represents a complex and cross- cutting phenomenon in all regions of our planet and the most serious threat to peace and security in the world, as it undermines the fundamental values and principles of the twenty-first century, including sustainable development, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The situation in Africa is particularly critical. According to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, the epicentre of terrorism has moved from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa and is currently responsible for more than half of all deaths caused by this scourge. Terrorist groups are operating with the highest frequency in North Africa, the Sahel, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa, particularly in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique, causing a high number of deaths, displaced people and refugees. On the other hand, terrorism tends to discourage private investment and stimulates the emigration of young Africans to other parts of the globe, thereby threatening the economic and social development of the continent and the prospects for the well-being of our peoples and therefore the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the AU. We are concerned about the use of conflict zones by terrorists, such as the Allied Democratic Forces, which operate in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo  — a region already infected by several armed groups that are even involved in the illicit exploitation of natural resources. Several sources also indicate that terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab, have become sources of financing for many other armed groups operating in the region, thereby constituting a dangerous threat to the peace of the region. We therefore welcome the measures announced today by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia against those involved in financing terrorism. We are also concerned about the trend of the migration of terrorist groups to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, with consequences that include the worsening Terrorism is a great challenge to international peace and security, as it represents one of the most dangerous existential threats to any country. To mitigate that risk, we believe that the promotion of good governance, the fight against corruption, the strengthening of State institutions and the establishment of early-warning systems are fundamental. We therefore defend the relevance of the implementation of the decisions of the sixteenth African Union extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government on terrorism and unconstitutional changes of Government — held in Malabo on 28 May 2022, under the proposal of His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola  — which analysed the root causes and adopted measures to prevent and combat those two scourges on the continent. African leaders stressed the need to join efforts at the regional and continental levels to combat terrorism and violent extremism, in particular with the materialization of a robust plan of action to combat terrorism, greater sharing of information and the building and strengthening of integrated capacities of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre. Actions against terrorism should be supported with sustainable financial resources and technical and logistical support, in particular through increased synergies between the United Nations and the African Union, in particular with the mobilization of funds in the context of the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) on the financing of peace operations led by the African Union, our continental organization. The Charter of the United Nations, specifically in Articles 52 through 54 of Chapter VIII, provides an appropriate framework for collaboration and the sharing of responsibilities between the United Nations and regional and subregional bodies and mechanisms in the maintenance of international peace and security. The multilateral approach underlined in several United Nations and African Union reference documents is therefore a strategic option in the fight against terrorism. Institutional collaboration between the United Nations and regional organizations has been referenced in several Security Council resolutions that emphasize the importance of that type of international cooperation against this scourge. We therefore believe that the following actions are very important: the alignment of strategies and actions; the prioritization and support of regional solutions; the strengthening of capacity for the protection of critical infrastructure and areas of common interest; and the promotion of a holistic approach that combines the security dimension and socioeconomic interventionism, in order to weaken factors that are sometimes considered the root causes of terrorism. Those actions can promote a better understanding of security dynamics at the regional level, harmonize efforts for preventive diplomacy and develop more effective strategies to combat terrorism and violent extremism, thereby ensuring a more pragmatic and holistic approach to the challenges to and opportunities for peace and stability on the continent. We therefore advocate a strengthening of cooperation among the United Nations Security Council, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the regional blocs in a common effort to counter the expansion and consolidation of terrorism on the African continent. As I speak, the Republic of Angola is preparing to assume the Chairpersonship of the African Union this coming month of February. Angola reiterates, once again, its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations  — a principle Last but not the least, I would like to end by saying that the Charter of the United Nations provides for a world in which the United Nations and regional organizations must work together to prevent, control and solve crises. It is, therefore, up to us to comply.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr. President, for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January, and I assure you of my country’s full support and cooperation. I would also like to convey my appreciation to Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Ambassador Said Djinnit, Senior Adviser to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, for their briefings. South Sudan is honoured to address the Council on the crucial matter of strengthening African leadership in counter-terrorism and advancing sustainable peace and security on our continent. Today, terrorism and transnational organized crime threaten not only African stability but also global peace. Addressing those challenges must, therefore, be a collective priority — one that respects and enhances African ownership, leadership and solutions. Allow me to raise the following points. The African Union and its member States are at the forefront of the fight against terrorism in Africa. However, African leadership can succeed only with the unwavering support of the international community, in particular with that of the Council. We urge the Security Council to reinforce its partnership with the African Union under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. That means not only endorsing African-led peace operations but also ensuring that those missions are guided by African expertise and local knowledge. Africa does not need solutions imposed from outside but rather partnerships that recognize and support our capability to solve our own challenges. A critical gap in Africa’s counter-terrorism efforts lies in sustainable and predictable funding. The issue of funding is very paramount in that regard. South Sudan calls on the Council to support mechanisms that ensure direct and reliable financial resources for African peace operations. That includes incorporating African- led missions into United Nations assessed contributions. In addition, innovative financing mechanisms, such as leveraging natural resource revenues, engaging international financial institutions and fostering private sector contributions, must be explored. Only with consistent funding can we sustain the fight against terrorism while addressing its root causes. Socioeconomic development is fundamental to counter-terrorism. Extremist groups thrive in environments in which poverty, unemployment and inequality persist. Agenda 2063 — the African Union’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous Africa — underscores the importance of addressing those root causes. South Sudan calls on the Council to support development initiatives and prioritize education, infrastructure, youth employment and the empowerment of women. By investing in Strengthened collaboration between the United Nations and African mechanisms, such as the Nouakchott Process and the Accra Initiative, is vital. South Sudan recommends regular joint consultations, information-sharing and capacity-building programmes to improve coordination and effectiveness. Furthermore, integrated strategies should be developed to address cross-border terrorism and organized crime, with a focus on empowering regional mechanisms to respond rapidly to emerging threats. South Sudan recognizes the significant role of transnational organized crime in financing terrorism, whether through illicit financial flows, drug trafficking or arms smuggling. We call on the Council to support African States in strengthening their financial intelligence systems and border security frameworks. Regional cooperation and technical support from international partners are essential to disrupting those networks. A robust legal framework and capacity-building initiatives must be prioritized to prevent funds from reaching terrorist organizations and groups. African States must be given the tools and the freedom to fulfil their mandates to protect their citizens. Sanctions and arms embargoes often restrict the ability of African nations to respond effectively to security threats. South Sudan calls on the Council to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on our country. Acts of terrorism have been part of the Southern Sudanese story during the days of the struggle, but last week we saw a live act of terrorism, with the inhumane killing of innocent South Sudanese citizens in the Sudan when the Sudanese Army and its allied group took over Wad Madani. South Sudanese people were brutally killed. We thank the African Union, the Chairperson of the East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for condemning what happened to our people, and we call upon the Security Council to join us in our call for an investigation into the killing of our South Sudanese people in the Sudan. Our President has also described what happened to our people as an act of terror and has called for an investigation. We also urge the Security Council to join us in our call. For that reason, it is imperative to adopt a more flexible and supportive approach  — one that recognizes the unique challenges African States face and prioritizes capacity- building over restrictions. In conclusion, South Sudan firmly believes that addressing terrorism and organized crime in Africa requires a holistic and African-led approach — one that integrates security, development and governance. We call on the Council to honour its commitment to supporting African leadership, respecting our sovereignty and fostering meaningful partnerships. Together, we can ensure that Africa achieves its vision of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated continent in line with Agenda 2063. Let us act with urgency and unity to confront those shared challenges and build a future in which Africa is not only resilient, but also a beacon of peace and prosperity.

I now give the floor to the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of Namibia.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this ministerial meeting in a spirit of unity and shared responsibility to address one of the most pressing threats to global peace and security, namely, terrorism. That scourge knows no borders, no religion and, in some cases, no ideology. It strikes indiscriminately, leaving in its wake countless lives shattered, communities destroyed, societies destabilized and people traumatized. I wish to thank the briefers for their insights. In Africa, terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to peace, security and development, undermining stability and eroding the social and economic progress Terrorism is not a new challenge, but its evolving nature and rapid spread across countries and regions demand our urgent and collective response. In recent years, we have seen the rise of transnational terror networks; the use of technology to spread political, religious or social extremist ideologies; and an increase in lone-wolf attacks that are difficult to predict. Those trends highlight the adaptive nature of terrorism and the need for innovative, coordinated and sustained counter-terrorism strategies. Twenty-four years ago, the United Nations adopted its first Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy (General Assembly resolution 60/288), as a unique instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism. Contextual solutions remain important, and several challenges are linked to the quest to foster African leadership and ownership of counter-terrorism efforts. African-led initiatives, such as the Nouakchott Process and the Accra Initiative, are strongly aligned with Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). Such efforts have demonstrated that sustainable solutions to terrorism must be homegrown, context- specific, people-centred and multi-stakeholder-driven. However, in order to achieve that, African countries require comprehensive support from the international community, particularly in the following areas. First, with regard to strengthening institutional capacity, African nations must be empowered to lead counter-terrorism efforts by building robust institutions capable of addressing both immediate security threats and long-term structural challenges. That includes enhancing intelligence-sharing and technical assistance mechanisms, improving judicial systems and ensuring accountability and the rule of law. Secondly, with regard to integrating development and security approaches, counter-terrorism efforts cannot succeed without addressing the underlying causes of radicalization. Investments in poverty eradication, education, job creation, healthcare and infrastructure are essential to reducing the vulnerabilities that terrorist groups exploit. Development-focused approaches must prioritize the needs of marginalized communities and ensure inclusive economic opportunities, particularly for young people and women. Thirdly, there is a need for coordinated efforts to support the prevention and early detection of terrorist activities, including the financing, mobilization and recruitment of terrorists. Fourthly, with regard to ensuring sustainable financing and partnerships, while African-led initiatives have shown remarkable resilience and innovation, many lack the necessary financial resources to sustain their operations. States are confronted by the need to allocate portions of their national budgets to counter-terrorism, diverting much-needed funds from social priorities and government programmes intended to foster development. The international community must therefore fulfil its commitments to provide predictable, adequate and flexible funding for African peace, security and development programmes. In that vein, Namibia considers the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023), on financing for African Union (AU)-led peace support operations, and resolution 2767 (2024), which endorsed the AU Peace and Security Council’s decision to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, to be significant milestones that are expected to have an important role to play in responding to the terrorist and security threats. As the global fight against terrorism continues, new challenges have emerged, including the use of cyberspace by terrorist organizations to recruit, radicalize We cannot achieve success in isolation. Terrorism is a global problem, and it demands a global response. International cooperation is not just an option; it is a necessity. The role of regional organizations, civil society and the private sector cannot be overstated. From countering online radicalization to assisting victims of terrorism, their contributions are invaluable. Terrorism aims to sow fear and division; therefore, our greatest strength lies in our ability to resist those forces by standing together. By fostering mutual understanding and rejecting hate in all its forms, we can build resilient societies that are impervious to the poison of extremism. In conclusion, sustainable peace and security in Africa cannot be achieved through military measures alone. By embracing African-led and development- focused approaches, the international community has an opportunity to rise to the challenge and address the root causes of terrorism, strengthen the resilience of communities and support Africa’s aspirations to a peaceful and prosperous future.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda.

I wish a happy New Year to all present. I am very humbled by the invitation to join you, Mr. President, for this debate about countering terrorism on the African continent, with a focus on what solutions we can offer together to deal with that ill, which has ravaged the continent. I also take this opportunity to thank the resource persons for briefing us on that specific subject. Most of Africa has been affected by terrorism — from the Sahel, through the Lake Chad basin, the Horn of Africa and northern Mozambique to the Great Lakes region. That malice has been attributed to groups such as Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and many others, and it has had devastating effects on people’s lives and livelihoods. As you, Mr. President, pointed out earlier, the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre reported that, in the first nine months of 2024, a total of 3,200 terrorist attacks took place on the African continent, resulting in 13,000 deaths. Civilians accounted for 67 per cent of those deaths. Participants may wish to know that that statistic includes 42 schoolchildren, killed at a school near Mpondwe, in western Uganda, and a British and a South African tourist, together with their Ugandan guide, killed in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, also in western Uganda. Perhaps, at that rate — but I hope not — by February this year, more than 18,000 Africans will be dead as a result of terrorism. That is the sad reality that Africa faces. Terrorism, as we all know, is organized violence, applied indiscriminately to achieve political goals or purposes. There is, however, no question that the root causes of terrorism and extremism are ideological, political, economic or social. Political causes lie in the questions of ideology and identity  — identity in terms of tribe or religion, creating a sense of us against them. Economic causes may be around the sharing or distribution of resources, goods and services, with some groups feeling deprived. In that regard, Uganda wishes to commend His Excellency President Félix- Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for accepting that the Uganda People’s Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo work together in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the fight against the ADF. Collective action in the form of international cooperation is therefore needed to support national efforts to tackle terrorism in areas such as money-laundering, cybercrime and human trafficking. In that way, together we can weaken the ability of terrorists to operate. Borders between African countries tend to be highly porous. That is partly because of the rather careless and reckless manner in which the colonial Governments drew those borders. Quite often, borders cut across communities. I am sure that many here have heard of the situation by which two siblings belonged to two different countries. His Excellency Vice-President Moody Awori was the Vice-President of Kenya, while his younger brother, Aggrey Awori, was a minister in the Government of Uganda  — siblings of the same family belonging to two different countries because of the awkward borders that we inherited. That happened because the border between Kenya and Uganda cut through their home, and they therefore had the option to choose whether to be Ugandan or to be Kenyan. In other cases, a border is a valley or a hill, with relatives on either side of the valley or the hill. Such borders are difficult to manage not only because they are not marked, but also because they are not respected, thus creating opportunities for terrorist elements to easily slip through. States should therefore strengthen cross-border cooperation and management by instituting patrols and integrating technologies in border management. There is no doubt that information and intelligence are critical in the fight against terrorism. States should take the initiative to strengthen information and intelligence sharing and tolerate and collaborate regional responses, as well as international partnerships, in order to mitigate the spread of terrorism. Many activities can be prosecuted only with adequate and reliable funding. That is equally true for terrorist activities. It is therefore imperative that States develop mechanisms, including at the regional level, for dealing with the sources of terrorism financing. Uganda is a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, and Uganda’s intelligence unit, the Financial Intelligence Authority, is a member of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. For most of 2023, Uganda was on the Financial Action Task Force Grey List. However, subsequent reports by the Task Force indicate that Uganda has demonstrated progress in strengthening efforts against money-laundering and countering the financing of the terrorism regime, including by demonstrating that law enforcement agencies and the judicial authorities apply the money-laundering offence consistent with the identified risks. Today Uganda is off the Grey List. In my view, that is just a simple example of the kind of action that States should undertake to deal with terrorism financing. That should not be exclusive of international cooperation to support national efforts in areas such as cybercrime, human trafficking and even money-laundering. As we look at ways to stop funding from flowing into terrorist organizations, at the same time we must also find funding for our operations and programmes in the That is where this Council and the entire United Nations system, entities charged with the maintenance of peace and security in the world, come in. As we launch the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), we must guarantee adequate, predictable and timely funding. The AU assessed contributions should be charged to support those peace support operations. To fail to do so is to condemn AUSSOM to failure before it begins. Quite often, terrorist groups may be resident in territories other than a country in which they wish to operate. As such, they plan, organize and spring operations against another country and its citizens from that territory. That is the case with the ADF, the bases of which are mainly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, from which it springs its operations into Uganda, causing the destruction of lives and property. The killing of the tourists whom I just mentioned and the 42 schoolchildren in Mpondwe was by ADF terrorists springing from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. That therefore calls for States, as well as international partners, to take appropriate measures to ensure that the respective territories are not used by terrorists for the preparation, financing or organization of terrorist acts intended to be committed against other States and their citizens. Terrorists and extremists thrive on the differences between faiths, especially Islam and Christianity, to recruit and radicalize young people. I recently watched a programme on Nigerian television during which a Muslim sheikh and a Christian bishop were addressing a congregation together. The Muslim cleric was quoting from the Holy Qur’an verses talking about Jesus and Holy Mary to demonstrate not only how Islam and Christianity are close, but also how Muslims respect Christ and Christianity. I was impressed and encouraged by that initiative and interaction. There is therefore a case for the need to promote the establishment and strengthening of interfaith dialogue, with a view to promoting harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among various faiths, thereby denying extremists the excuse to use religion to recruit. It is very important that the United Nations pay attention to the problem of the radicalization of young people, since radicalization is a fire that fuels extremism. With the support of the entire United Nations system, the Secretary- General needs to explore more feasible and sustainable alternatives in the long term in order to address the issue of the radicalization of young people. Since radicalization, a large number of young people prepare to engage in terrorism, creating a much larger problem. Earlier, I mentioned economic deprivation and a lack of economic opportunity as some of the reasons that terrorism thrives in some jurisdictions. In such a case, there is a need to develop and adapt comprehensive, multidimensional approaches that address the root causes and structural drivers of conflict, including by establishing deliberate socioeconomic programmes aimed at economic empowerment, especially of young people and women, and ushering them into the money economy. Many African countries have a large population outside the money economy. That will not only capture their hearts and minds but also reorient them away from politics of identity to politics of interests. In my view, that could avert many of the conflicts on the continent. Along with the deliberate economic programmes, there is also a need to look at the political drivers. That calls for African States to look at their democratic credentials so that no group believes or feels that it is left out or denied the chance to participate. Counter-terrorism initiatives have been poorly resourced, partly because of the competing priorities, such as development and poverty eradication. There is therefore a need to allocate funding to the war against terrorism in national budgets. That is where this Council, particularly insofar as international partnerships are concerned, comes in in allocating funding dedicated to the fight against terrorism and extremism. The AU Commission’s continental strategic plan of action, which is in fact a guide to the allocation of resources fostering regional cooperation, aligning the efforts of Member States to promote awareness around counter-terrorism efforts on the continent, is commendable and should be supported. It is important to remember that nature abhors a vacuum. Many terrorists operate in spaces in which the central authority is either absent or negligible. There is therefore a need for African States to strengthen enforcement capabilities, including, but by no means limited to, building strong and professional armies, which are also equipped with the correct ideology of pan-Africanism, non-sectarianism and nationalism in order to defend the integrity of the State and defeat terrorism. In conclusion, I would like to re-emphasize the fact that the fight against terrorism and extremism is a community affair. It calls upon all States, regional institutions and international partners to work together in concert in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

I now give the floor to the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. I also thank the Deputy Secretary-General and the briefers for their insights. Terrorism is still a persistent global threat, jeopardizing security, destabilizing regions and hindering development, including in Africa. As a country that has experienced acts of terrorism, Indonesia understands that preventing and countering terrorism requires a comprehensive approach. Key to that is national ownership and a soft-approach strategy that incorporates prevention, as well as policies and legislation that fully adhere to the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Our experiences also showed that tackling the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism is essential. Prolonged and unresolved conflicts create instability, which fuels terrorism. Additionally, deep-seated injustice can create conditions in which terrorism thrives, including among today’s socially conscious young Addressing the root causes of terrorism requires actions at the national, regional and global levels. At the national level, promoting dialogue, tolerance and moderation is critical. Indonesia believes that digital literacy, outreach and critical thinking are important to safeguarding against harmful ideologies. National legislation must also address the financing aspects of violent extremism and terrorism. To be effective, the implementation of national strategies and legislation also requires a conducive and supportive regional environment. Regional mechanisms should therefore be promoted, including by the African Union. In that regard, we support the African Union as an engine of peace and stability for the region to strengthen its cooperation in the field of countering terrorism. We stand ready to support the relevant initiatives, including the Nouakchott Process and the Accra Initiative. Over the years, we have also supported African countries through training and capacity-building at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation. We would also welcome initiatives that can further strengthen cooperation between the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. That reflects Indonesia’s unwavering commitment to being a reliable partner for Africa, including in counter- terrorism capabilities. Furthermore, constructive collaboration between the United Nations and regional organizations is also important. A good example is the collaboration between the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force in countering terrorism. That collaboration highlights the complementarity of efforts of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Africa and regional mechanisms. Terrorism recognizes no borders. Cooperation at the global level is therefore imperative. Exchanging information and best practices to enhance counter-terrorism measures, especially among law enforcement bodies, must be continuously promoted. By embracing that collective spirit, Africa can better develop solutions to address its own immediate security concerns, including due to terrorism and transnational organized crime. Finally, the effective implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 will lead to Africa being a global powerhouse of the future. Ensuring equitable African representation in a reformed Security Council is critical to enhancing its rightful voice in the global arena. Indonesia stands ready to promote that vision — a future in which security and sustainable development are accessible to all.

It is almost 1.45 p.m., and there are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. Consequently, I intend, with the concurrence of members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m. Before doing so, on behalf of all those present, I sincerely thank the interpreters, who have been so generous as to allow more time for our debate and, by doing so, to permit greater participation in it. Our sincere gratitude goes to them.