Africa: Communiqué of the 1237th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council Held On 23 October 2024 On Consideration of the AU Commission Report On Combating Terrorism in the Continent

30 October 2024
African Union (Addis Ababa)

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1237th meeting held on 23 October 2024 on Consideration of the AU Commission Report on Combating Terrorism in the Continent.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling Declaration [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XVI)] on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 28 May 2022;

Also recalling Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.2.1219 (2024)] on the Declaration of the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism meeting on the theme: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institutional Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism in Africa, held from 22 to 23 April 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria;

Determined to combat and completely eradicate the scourge of terrorism in the Continent in all its ramifications;

Taking note of the Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Gad, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for October 2024 and the Introductory Statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security; also taking note of the statements by the representative of the Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU; the presentations by the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre(AUCTC); the Executive Secretary of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA); and by the Representative of the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL); and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council,

1. Welcomes the Report of the AU Commission on Combating Terrorism in the Continent;

2. Commends efforts being deployed by the AU Commission, AUCTC, AFRIPOL and CISSA in supporting counterterrorism efforts in the Continent, including through the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to Member States with the view to building professional state institutions, specifically in law enforcement and national security;

3. Also commends the efforts being deployed by H.E. Abdelmagjid Tebboune, President of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria, as the AU Champion on the Fight Against Terrorism and Violent Extremism;

4. Expresses deep concern over the exponential rise and spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism throughout the Continent, which is undermining AU efforts to Silence the Guns in Africa by 2030, and derailing the progress towards the realization of the aspirations of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

5. Reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in the Continent committed by whomsoever, wherever, which cannot be justified under whatever circumstances; and reiterates the determination of the AU to rid Africa of the scourge;

6. Also welcomes the participation of the AU in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum that was held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, in New York, under the Co-Chairship of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union; and looks forward to the engagement of the AU in the forum particularly as it acceded as a "Privileged Partner";

7. Notes with deep concern the sustained financing of terrorist activities, particularly the growing linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, illicit exploitation and trade of mineral and natural resources, as well as illicit financial flows with debilitating impact on the national economies of Member States; and calls for the strengthening of international cooperation to effectively address these concerns including through taking appropriate measures to ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for the preparation, financing, or organization of terrorist acts intended to be committed against other States or their citizens

8. While reaffirming the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national unity of all Member States, emphasizes the primary responsibility of Member States to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism and, in this regard, underscores the continued commitment of the AU to promote holistic and inclusive approaches, as well as the need for African ownership and lead role in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, within the context of promoting African solutions to African problems;

9. Encourages Member States to adopt multifaceted and comprehensive "whole of society and whole of government" approaches that incorporate and strengthen coherence between political, security, investment, growth and development activities in support of governance, sustainable economic growth, and poverty eradication in addressing the root causes and structural drivers of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa; and in the same vein, calls for strengthening collaboration with all strategic stakeholders such as, civil society, the media, the private sector, as well as community leaders and leaders of various religious persuasions in preventing and combating terrorism;

10. Strongly condemns all forms of foreign interference in the internal affairs of Member States, which undermines the efforts of the Continent to silence the guns and aggravates crises with devastating effects on Africa's development and stability;

11. Requests the Commission to report back to Council, by the first quarter of 2025, on the steps taken to establish and operationalise the PSC Sub- Committee on Counter-terrorism;

12. Further requests the AU Commission to continue supporting the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), including by mobilizing additional funding to enhance its fight against terrorists in the Lake Chad Region and other regional deployments, as well as strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanisms on the continent;

13. Underscores the need for adequate, sustainable and predictable funding for counterterrorism efforts, particularly terrorism in Africa, and within that context, calls for the full and immediate implementation of UNSC resolution 2719 in financing AU-led PSOs dedicated to combating terrorism or its effects on the Continent, and also, emphasizes the urgent need for the operationalization of the AU Special Fund for Counter-terrorism;

14. Underlines the importance of full implementation of the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, including the establishment and operationalization of the AU Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism; the development of Comprehensive Continental Strategic Plan of Action on countering terrorism in Africa; and the Abuja Process Declaration of April 2024 and requests the AU Commission to submit a detailed progress report on the implementation of the Malabo and Abuja Declarations to Council also by the first quarter of 2025 for consideration;

15. Emphasizes the need for a mechanism to ensure enhanced coordination and complementarity of counter-terrorism efforts in Africa which are being deployed by Member States, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), the United Nations and other international organization and further welcomes the close coordination and collaboration between the AU Commission and United Nation Office of Counter-Terrorism;

16. Also emphasizes the need for Member States to ensure psycho-social support for the victims of terrorism, particularly the youth, women and children, including those who voluntarily surrender from terrorist groups;

17. Directs the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUCPCRD), working in collaboration with the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC) to develop programmes to support the building of strong and resilient state institutions in counter-terrorism and post-territorial defeat efforts; and in this respect, underscores the need for these institutions to be availed with all resources they require to more effectively deliver on their respective mandates;

18. Emphasizes the need for African non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (A3) to continue advocating for sustained international support for African-led counter-terrorism initiatives;

19. Encourages Member States to integrate climate change adaptation programs into the national security strategies, particularly in regions like the Sahel, where environmental degradation exacerbates local grievances;

20. Further condemns the increasing use, by terrorist groups, of a variety of new technologies, including remotely operated systems, to commit attacks in the Continent, and in this regard, underlines the need for investment in counter-improvised explosive devices (IED) technologies and the provision of enhanced training to, and development of, joint task forces dedicated to combating the use by terrorist groups, of advanced technologies, including drones;

21. Underlines the need for Member States to invest in innovative approaches for effectively countering online radicalization narratives and to prevent the online recruitment of African Youth by terrorist and extremist groups;

22. Encourages Member States to promote the establishment and or strengthening of interfaith dialogues with the view to promoting harmony, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the various faiths noting that extremists exploit differences between faiths, to radicalize and recruit young people.

23. Underscores the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, cross-border cooperation and collective security approaches and, in this respect, underlines the important role of regional centers for counter-terrorism such as the Djibouti and Nouakchott Processes, as well as the regional centers for counter-terrorism efforts including Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja which was upgraded to the West African Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre in April 2024; and underscores the need to develop a new AU Plan of Action for the prevention and combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism;

24. Highlights the need to develop an up-to-date database of terrorist groups/organizations active on the African continent, including persons/ individuals and entities involved in or facilitating the activities of terrorist groups, to be provided by the governments of the AU Member States;

25. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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