The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for greater international support to African countries in their听continued听fight听against听terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in parts of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin听region听and the Horn of Africa.听
Members issued a statement strongly condemning terrorism 鈥渋n all forms and manifestations鈥�, and urged stepped up support to countries in areas such as training and in developing regional strategies and action plans.听
In her briefing to ambassadors,听UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo听outlined听the reach of groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia听and East Africa, but also ISIL and Al Qaida, whose affiliates听are collaborating on attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.听
鈥淲e know that women bear a disproportionate burden of this violence, including through sexual slavery.听听Just as misogyny is at the heart of so many terrorist groups' strategies, so must women be at the听centre听of our responses鈥�, she stated.听
Marginalization听fuels听extremism听
Ms. DiCarlo spoke on behalf of the UN Secretary-General who has emphasized the need to address听the听underlying factors听fuelling听terrorism.听
A听by the听UN Development听Programme听()听details findings from interviews with听more than 700 former members of extremist groups.听听听
Most听came from borderland听or peripheral areas听that听have听been听marginalized for generations.听
鈥淚n these ungoverned and neglected spaces听that听are hotspots of violence, communities experienced听lack of听access to services such as education, health care,听justice, security, livelihoods,听the听opportunity听to influence the decisions that听affect听their lives,听and听the opportunities they need to thrive.听These are the challenges听that underpin violent extremism鈥�,听UNDP听Assistant-Secretary General听Abdoulaye Mar听Dieye听told the Council.听
Co-opting women鈥檚 empowerment听
Many听violent听extremist听groups听in Africa have听lured women recruits by co-opting听messages听about women鈥檚 empowerment听and improved socio-economic status, another听revealed.听
鈥淚f these root causes听of violent extremism听are not addressed, the risk of听ongoing recruitment of听women, including re-recruitment of many thousands of female returnees,听will continue鈥�,听Mr. Mar听Dieye听warned.听
Extremists听are also exploiting technology听to recruit members and to spread messages via social media and online platforms, as the African Union鈥檚 representative pointed out.听听
鈥淲e must also recognize that the sophistication of terrorist groups doesn鈥檛 stop at their radicalization and recruitment strategies鈥�, said AU Ambassador Fatima听Kyari听Mohammed.听 鈥淥ver the years they have morphed into well-organized听shadow听governments providing services and,听in some cases, acting as the judge, jury and executioner.鈥澨�
Terrorism has no borders听
Ms. DiCarlo urged international听action to address听issues such as poverty, weak governance, inter-communal听tensions, youth employment and听gender inequality.听听听
鈥淎s terrorism has no borders, preventing and combatting it requires strong multilateral cooperation鈥�, she said,听underlining UN commitment.
