Counterterrorism experts convened at a United Nations panel on Tuesday, shedding light on the escalating threat of terrorism in Africa, which they identified as the new global hotbed. The experts disclosed that last year, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for half of all terrorism-related fatalities worldwide. While affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State (IS) continue their belligerent activities worldwide, African nations are bearing the brunt.
Interpol, the international criminal police organisation, underscored that terrorism linked to extreme right-wing ideologies has seen a staggering 50-fold increase over the last decade, predominantly in Europe, North America and parts of the Asia-Pacific.
Adding to the concern, the experts outlined that the deteriorating global security scenario has rendered terrorism threats increasingly multifaceted and decentralised. The growing proficiency in sophisticated technology, drones, and artificial intelligence has granted extremists novel avenues to orchestrate attacks.
The conference, the UN’s third high-level gathering of heads of counterterrorism agencies, aimed to revitalise international cooperation to combat terrorism. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, emphasised that to thwart terrorism, it is imperative to also address its root causes such as poverty, discrimination, inadequate infrastructure, human rights violations, and other fundamental factors.
Spotlight on Africa
“Africa has emerged as the key battleground for terrorism,” stated Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General. He highlighted that the proliferation of political, economic, and social disparities, porous borders, and identity-based movements have fuelled the rise of al-Qaida and IS in Africa.
Khiari cited the influx of weaponry and foreign fighters from Libya as a notable factor exacerbating the situation in Burkina Faso, Sahel, Chad, and Sudan.
Colonel General Igor Sirotkin of Russia’s Federal Security Service expressed that West Africa is morphing into the nucleus of Islamist terrorism, with terrorist groups spreading their influence. He warned of the potential resurrection of IS as an African caliphate.
Qatari special envoy for counterterrorism, Mutlaq Al-Qahtani, implored that counterterrorism endeavours should concentrate on the African continent where half of the terrorism casualties occurred last year.
Justin Hustwitt of the UN, opined that IS is angling to establish itself as a political entity, particularly in the tri-border region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Global Concerns Remain
Khiari also noted that the Middle East continues to grapple with the reverberations of conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Gregory Hinds, Interpol’s counterterrorism director, pointed out the alarmingly rapid pace at which al-Qaida- and IS-affiliated groups are executing attacks across Africa, Asia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Europe, and North America.
Hinds attributed the dramatic surge in extreme right-wing terrorism to global events and agendas. Secretary-General Guterres concurred, adding that neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements are rapidly becoming primary internal security threats in several countries.
Positives Amidst the Shadows
While highlighting the depleting resources and attrition of leadership within Daesh, Gregory LoGerfo of the US State Department underscored the prevention of large-scale attacks and investment in stabilising regions as positive strides.
Google’s Tobias Peyeri noted that the company employs AI-driven technologies to combat the promotion of hatred and extremism. He, however, warned that extremist groups are becoming increasingly adept at circumventing detection through coded communications, complex narratives, and modification of popular computer games.
The conference has accentuated the imperative for international cooperation and holistic approaches in the ongoing battle against global terrorism.
Image Credit: Feisal Omar/Reuters
