UN Security Council: Attaf Chairs High-Level Meeting on Combating Terrorism in Africa

Algeria – Commissioned by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, will preside over a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on combating terrorism in Africa on Tuesday in New York.

Mr. Attaf explained in a recent press conference that this high-level meeting represents a key event within the framework of Algeria’s presidency of the Security Council for the month of January, aiming to “discuss the expansion of terrorist activities in Africa and the threats they pose to the security and stability of African countries.”

In an interview with Algeria International Channel “AL24 News,” he emphasized the significant responsibility borne by Algeria in the UN Security Council regarding the fight against the scourge of terrorism in Africa, given that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune serves as the spokesperson for Africa in the field of counter-terrorism and is authorized to follow this issue on behalf of the continent.

Mr. Attaf noted that “Algeria has recently observed that the international community has diverted its attention from this ongoing scourge in Africa. Therefore, through this initiative (the ministerial meeting at the Security Council), we sought to reinvigorate the international community’s focus on this issue, which has begun to exhibit some distinct characteristics.”

In this context, the minister pointed to the “expansion” of terrorism in Africa, at a time when “this phenomenon is receding in many regions of the world,” highlighting that “terrorism has grown stronger in terms of numbers.”

He asserted that “terrorism has indeed strengthened in terms of numbers, making it difficult for us to speak of terrorist groups; we are now referring to terrorist armies, given the increasing numbers that these groups possess.”

The Foreign Minister stated that the threat posed by terrorism to the continent has significantly escalated in recent years, noting a “real evolution among terrorist groups in Africa.” He added that these groups “have managed to acquire advanced weapons used in what I would describe as military operations.” He observed that “among the terrorist groups, there is a mastery of military tactics and strategies, indicating a dangerous evolution of terrorism in Africa,” which underscores the necessity of organizing this meeting at the Security Council to discuss the best approach to manage and respond to the terrorist threat.

Furthermore, negotiations are underway regarding a draft presidential declaration proposed by Algeria in the context of the meeting.

In March 2020, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement regarding the threat posed by terrorism in Africa, considering that the presence of terrorism and violent extremism leading to terrorism could undermine social and economic development in affected countries.

It also emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism and efforts aimed at addressing the developmental, social, and economic dimensions of the challenge posed by terrorist groups.

Recently, the United Nations Security Council took a “decisive” step in combating the financing of terrorism by endorsing the adoption of a set of guiding principles by its Counter-Terrorism Committee, which now includes Algeria’s name: “Algeria’s Guiding Principles.”

This significant diplomatic achievement, resulting from an intensive year-long negotiation process under Algeria’s presidency of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, adds to the previous accomplishments during Algeria’s tenure on the Security Council, establishing a new international framework to address the challenges posed by the rapid developments in financial technologies.

With the conclusion of its first year in the UN Security Council (2024-2025), Algeria has left a notable mark on the international structure for combating terrorism, as the adoption of the “Algeria Principles” on financing terrorism using modern technologies stands as a tangible legacy of this term and represents a historical contribution to the promotion of international peace and security.

APS