UN Security Council has expressed serious concerns over ever-increasing terrorist activities leading to widespread instability across the African continent. The growth of terrorism is a major threat to international peace and security in general and Africa in particular with more ferocity, the deputy UN chief told the Security Council on Thursday.
Africa has been a victim of brutal terrorist activities perpetrated by various extremists groups including Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates who have mercilessly exploited political instability and internecine conflicts to increase their activities and intensify attacks across the continent”. “Their nonsensical, terror-fuelled brutality has killed and wounded thousands and many more continue to suffer from the widespread impact of terrorism on their lives and livelihoods as well”.
Misogynist ideology at the core of terrorism
With misogyny at the heart of many terrorist groups’ ideology, women and girls, in particular, are bearing the utmost brunt of insecurity and inequality.
During the last two years, some of the most violent affiliates of Da’esh have expanded, increasing their presence in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger as well as southward into the Gulf of Guinea.
“Terrorist and violent extremist groups aggravate instability and human suffering. And they can plunge a country emerging from war back into the depths of conflict”.
Human Trafficking, Smuggling is the wide avenues of the Terror Groups
In the meantime smuggling, human trafficking and various illicit financing are the few illegitimate strategies being pursued by the terrorists, their splinter groups, non-state armed miscreants and criminals.
Terrorists and other criminal groups are exploiting inter-communal tensions and food insecurity triggered by climate change with digital tools by spreading hatred and disinformation.
Globalization of Terrorism
In today’s digitized world, terrorism in Africa is spreading its tentacles across the world. It is no longer a concern for the African Member States alone”. While unstable political situations in Africa have enabled the terrorist groups to entrench their roots deeper in the region, it has also provided them with a prolific ground to expand their wings to other parts of the globe.
From the climate emergency to armed conflict and poverty and inequality to lawless cyberspace, and the uneven recovery from COVID-19, terrorism is converging with other threats.
Terrorism has a greater impact when all the other tragedies like climate crises, armed conflicts, poverty and inequality in lawless cyberspace converge together. And as such a very holistic and comprehensive approach is required to address the grievous situations prevalent in the region.
Prevention is the best response
To advance counter-terrorism efforts in Africa, “prevention remains our best response”.
Besides, the issue of political instability and internecine conflicts that provide adequate breeding space to terrorism should be addressed in the first place, because these conditions are viciously exploited by the terrorists in pursuit of their unholy agendas”.
There is also a need for community-based concerted efforts towards creating a gender-sensitive “whole-of-society” approach.
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The United Nations Security Council has stated that “complex links between terrorism, patriarchy and gender-based violence”, and added that counter-terrorism policies needed to be “strengthened by the meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls”.
While speaking on behalf of the UN Chief, Deputy Secretary-General Ms Mohammed underscored in her point that “countering terrorism can never be an excuse for violating human rights or international law” as it would “only set us back”. She also stressed the importance of regional organizations which can address challenges posed by terrorist and violent extremist groups in the local context.
Finally, Ms Mohamed called for “sustained and predictable funding” to prevent and counter-terrorism.
From economic deprivation to organized crime and governance challenges, “the magnitude of the problem calls for bold investment”, she told ambassadors.
She expressed confidence that the debate would offer insights for the summit, and “help to build peaceful, stable communities and societies across the continent”.
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