Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 25th Jan. UN head Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that Africa has become the “global epicentre of terrorism”, with groups such as Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates exploiting local conflicts and fragilities to serve their own ends.
He called for violent extremism to be rooted out.
Mr. Guterres said terror groups were “shredding the social fabric of entire countries with the blades of violence, mistrust and fear” at a meeting in New York on counter-terrorism initiatives across the continent.
“Community by community, terrorist groups are extending their reach,” he said.
Guterres added that networks are widening, fighters and resources, and making common cause with transnational organized crime.
“In every case, civilians are paying the highest price and, in the end, all of humanity pays.”
Mr. Guterres addressed the counter-terrorism experts, government officials, and civil society and private sector representatives said the crisis must be tackled head on before it spins out of control.
He highlighted initiatives such as the multinational task force in the Lake Chad Basin countering Boko Haram and the African Union’s Transition Mission in Somalia, and as Security Council resolution 2719 on financing of AU-led peace support operations.
“But we need urgent action, on a much larger scale than we’ve seen to date,” he said.
He stressed that the root causes of terrorism fragility and instability must be addressed.
Guterres emphasized the New Agenda for Peace he launched last July.
He said efforts to counter terrorism must be anchored in human rights and strategies focus on the marginalized and vulnerable.
UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact also addressed the rising violence and the spread of terrorist networks.
The gathering will consider how counter-terrorism efforts can be aligned with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063.
Counter-Terrorism Compact is a network of 46 UN and non-UN entities was launched in 2018.
It also includes INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization, and the Financial Action Task Force, which combats money laundering and terrorism financing.
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