UN’s Ban urges ‘holistic approach’ to fight terrorism in Africa
May 14, 2013: From the Horn of Africa in the east and across the Sahel to the west,
terrorism continues to pose a threat to the continent’s peace, security and development,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday as he warned that Africa was facing a
rise in the presence of extremist groups and terrorist entities.
In remarks
delivered to the United Nations Security Council’s open debate on combating terrorism
in Africa, the Secretary-General said that success in the combat against groups such
as the Nigeria-based Boko Haram, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, and the Somalia-based
Al Shabaab would require greater and more holistic efforts.
“Military advances,
important as they are, will not by themselves bring an end to terrorism in Africa.
This struggle must go forward on many fronts, including by addressing the conditions
that are conducive to the spread of terrorism,” Mr. Ban stressed, while adding that
the lack of development and the absence of the rule of law allow terrorist groups
to recruit across communities and build their ranks.
“Opportunistic links
between terrorist and transnational organized criminal groups ensure the constant
flow of people, money, weapons and illicit goods across borders, allowing such groups
to survive and proliferate,” he continued. Turning to the continent’s terrorist hotspots,
Mr. Ban told the 15-Member Council that in Somalia, for example, there had already
been “important progress towards stability” with the Islamist militant group, Al Shabaab
uprooted from numerous strategic locations.
“But to secure these gains and
prevent the group’s resurgence, a lot more needs to be accomplished with respect to
the rule of law, development and the country’s political transformation,” he noted.
In particular, the UN chief underscored the role of the newly established UN Mission
in Somalia in providing strategic policy guidance on security sector reform while
also supporting the country’s nascent Federal Government in strengthening their police,
justice and corrections.
As for Mali and the wider Sahel region, the Secretary-General
similarly pointed out the international community’s successes in tackling a deteriorating
situation with what he described as “welcome resolve.” In December 2012, at the request
of the Malian Government, the Security Council authorized the deployment of the African-led
International Support Mission in Mali, known by its French acronym, AFISMA, in order
to support national efforts to recover the country’s north, which had been occupied
by radical Islamists. The conflict uprooted hundreds of thousands of people and prompted
the Malian Government to request assistance from France to stop the military advance
of extremist groups.
As with Somalia, Mr. Ban suggested that the newly launched
UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) would provide
key support for the Malian authorities in extending state control and building “legitimate
instruments of governance.” In addition, he stated that in the Sahel, the UN was developing
“an integrated strategy that aims to enhance governance; strengthen the capacity of
national and regional security mechanisms; and integrate development and humanitarian
activities in order to build resilience. Without such a holistic approach, we risk
simply pushing the threat from one area to another,” the Secretary-General concluded.
In a Presidential statement approved at the start of the meeting, members
of the Security Council echoed Mr. Ban’s remarks by voicing deep concern at the increasing
violence perpetrated by armed groups across Africa’s regions and sub-regions. They
similarly called for an integrated response which would target development as much
as it would security and include a wide variety of actors ranging from the international
community to civil society groups.
“The Security Council recognizes that terrorism
will not be defeated by military force or security forces, law enforcement measures,
and intelligence operations alone,” the statement declared while underlining the need
to address the conditions conducive to “strengthening efforts for the successful prevention
and peaceful resolution of prolonged conflicts, and also promoting the rule of law,
the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, tolerance
and inclusiveness.”
As a result, the Council called on the Secretary-General
to provide “a comprehensive survey and assessment” of the UN’s work in assisting Member
States and sub-regional and regional entities across Africa in fighting the continent’s
terrorist threats.
“The United Nations is strongly committed to doing its part
to combat terrorism in Africa,” Mr. Ban reminded the Council during his remarks. “Success
is crucial for enabling Africans to meet their aspirations to live in dignity and
peace.”