Addressing the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed painted a bleak picture of the worsening terrorism crisis in Africa, calling for immediate and coordinated global action to address it. Participants of the meeting, that was initiated by Algeria that held the presidency of the Security Council in January, noted the devastating impact of extremism on the continent and proposed ways to combat it.

“A significant threat”

"Africa, unfortunately, remains the epicentre of global terrorism," the Deputy Secretary-General said.  “Terrorism is the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the African continent today.”

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 59 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, with the Sahel region the epicentre of the crisis, Amina Mohammed said. Violent attacks in coastal West Africa have increased by 250 per cent in two years. She cited recent attacks, which she said underscored the urgent need to act. “On 8 January, Benin suffered its most fatal attack since 2021. It killed at least 28 soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger. Days earlier, extremists attacked a military base in Sabon-Guide, Nigeria, killing six soldiers,” she said.

Three priorities

In her call for action, the Deputy Secretary-General outlined three priorities: addressing the root causes of terrorism, implementing human rights-based approaches and strengthening regional cooperation. “Terrorism thrives where there is instability, poverty, inequality and frustration,” she said. “When social services are scarce or unevenly distributed, conditions are ripe for radicalization and recruitment.”

She stressed the importance of inclusivity, calling for women, youth and vulnerable groups to be included in the decision-making process. “Too often, counter-terrorism measures result in unjustified human rights violations, which undermine trust in state institutions,” Mohammed said.

The role of the UN Security Council

In closing, the Deputy Secretary-General called on the international community to join forces to address the crisis through African-led measures.

“The Security Council has a critical role to play in supporting the African Union’s counter-terrorism initiatives based on African leadership,” she said. “Let us commit to rooting out terrorism in Africa and around the world.”

Innovating in the fight against terrorism in Africa

In his address to the Security Council, INTERPOL Deputy Special Representative to the UN Dominic Bahorera stressed the importance of global coordination of counter-terrorism efforts and information sharing. Interpol, he said, actively cooperates with the UN and regional organizations, such as the African Union, adapting global initiatives to the specific needs of the continent.

He also reminded that Interpol's resources contain data on 132 thousand terrorists and help process incoming information and generate investigative leads. "Effective counter-terrorism relies on reliable analytics and high-quality data, including biometrics, provided by member states," he stressed.

 

Speaking about technical support, Dominic Bahorera noted that Interpol provides comprehensive assistance to African states, including border and maritime operations, as well as training and advanced training for law enforcement officers.

In 2024, several regional operations were carried out, resulting in the arrest of 121 people, as well as the confiscation of weapons, drugs and counterfeit goods. “These operations highlight the links between terrorism and organised crime, with terrorists using the infrastructure and resources of criminal networks to finance their activities,” he said, stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism.