Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - Africa

Joint Open Briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee

AKHVEDELID — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:27:00 +0000

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The Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee are convening a Joint Open Briefing on the evolution of the threat posed by ISIL in Africa, Member States’ responses, and continuing challenges.

Since 2014, ISIL has penetrated Africa and appears to be gaining strength with a significant footprint in multiple regions. Increased narratives target recruitment on the continent; ISIL propaganda features Africa; and attacks perpetrated by ISIL affiliates, which have caused a large number of casualties, have been trending upwards.

Key ISIL affiliates in West Africa are the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), present mainly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), present mainly in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region more generally, with ISIL presence also elsewhere, in Egypt, Libya, and Somalia in particular. ISIL’s increasing propaganda linked to attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province is a development of significant concern. The socio-political consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have created further vulnerabilities on the African continent and further exacerbated the threat posed by ISIL. The conflict landscape is complicated by armed groups and other terrorist groups in the different regions, where success of the Taliban in Afghanistan may have also emboldened Al Qaeda-affiliated groups.

The trajectory of ISIL in Africa could have far-reaching implications for peace and security in the region and elsewhere. Coherent regional approaches are a matter of priority as well as comprehensive approaches that bring together military, criminal justice, and development efforts, among others. African States have made significant efforts. Progress has been achieved in a range of areas, including, inter alia, through the adoption of specialized legislative frameworks, regional and national military operations, criminal justice responses, efforts related to prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies, enhanced regional cooperation, and measures aiming at addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Nevertheless, although African States recognize the importance of a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to address the root causes of the security challenges facing the continent, States’ efforts to address vulnerabilities are constrained by limited resources and capacity.

Under the Chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the joint open briefing will bring together representatives of Member States, analysts, policymakers, and representatives of civil society and researchers to examine the evolution of the threat posed by ISIL in Africa, and Member States’ responses to the threat and challenges as well as highlighting the perspectives of civil society.

The joint open briefing will take place in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, 51�Թ� Headquarters, New York, with select speakers connecting via an online platform. Interpretation will be provided between all official UN languages.

The joint open briefing will be livestreamed at: https://media.un.org/en/webtv.

The concept note for the joint open briefing is available here:

The agenda for the joint open briefing is available here:

Front Page Article:

CTED joins discussion of evolving terrorist threat in Africa

BMUSONI — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 19:11:00 +0000

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On 8 December 2021, at the invitation of the Government of Egypt, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), attended a virtual workshop entitled “Defeating Terrorism in an Era of Cascading Risks:

perspectives from Africa”, organized by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding as part of the preparatory process for the Third Edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development.

The workshop brought together government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, experts, professionals, researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations to consider the international legal counter-terrorism framework established by Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks carried out in the United States on 11 September 2001.

Participants discussed the challenges and trends that had emerged over the subsequent two decades, with a particular focus on the African continent and with reference to issues such as organized crime, climate change, forced displacement, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In sharing her observations and analysis of the terrorist threat in Africa, Ms. Coninsx expressed concern at the consequences of the pandemic, which included increasingly polarized societies, a global economic downturn, and further governance challenges. The terrorist threat was constantly evolving and was increasingly diverse, globalized, and rooted in local contexts, especially in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change had impacted States’ capacity to provide effective responses to the threat.

Assistant-Secretary General Coninsx also expressed concern at joint operations of Al-Qaida and ISIL affiliates in some African regions.

“The greatest threat comes from ISIL affiliates that exploit the deteriorating humanitarian situation in many areas of the continent, such as North Africa; the Sahel; the Lake Chad Basin; and eastern and southern Africa, including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda”, she said.

“For the terrorist threat to be countered, human rights should always be respected, and terrorists should be brought to justice in the short term, whereas conditions that can be favourable to terrorism should be addressed in the medium and long term”, she added.

Front Page Article:

CTED supports Africa in enhancing aviation security

BMUSONI — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 16:03:00 +0000

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CTED representative speaking at the Ministerial Conference in Windhoek.

A Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa was held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 4 to 8 April 2016. The event, co-hosted by the Government of Namibia and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in collaboration with the African Union Commission, aimed at addressing new and emerging security threats, as well as facilitation issues, in Africa.

“Effective border control is the first line of defence against the movement of terrorists across borders and the illegal cross-border movement of goods and cargo, and it is key to the effective implementation of counter-terrorism measures pursuant to Security Council resolutions,” stressed Mr. Weixiong Chen, Deputy Executive Director of the 51�Թ� Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in his speech at the Ministerial event.

“Resolution 2178 (2014) obliges Member States to take steps to ensure aviation security by introducing an Advance Passenger Information (API) system. In this regard, CTED will continue to work with ICAO and other partners in facilitating the delivery of technical assistance to Member States which need capacity-building in aviation and facilitation according to two annexes to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation,” added Mr. Chen. “Effective border control should also be part of any comprehensive and integrated national counter-terrorism strategy,” he concluded.

CTED representative speaking at the Ministerial Conference in Windhoek.

Honourable Alpheus G !Naruseb, Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, told the audience that Africa has become one of the fastest growing air travel markets in the world, although the region also has persistent safety and security related deficiencies which affect African States.

“Aviation security and facilitation requirements are key enablers to a strong aviation industry. Our challenge is to implement ICAO standards and recommended practices to inspire confidence in our security oversight capability individually and collectively,” the Minister emphasised.

An appeal was also made by Mr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the ICAO Council, to the participants to step up efforts of their respective countries in terms of compliance.

The event was attended by African Ministers and senior Government officials on aviation security, as well as representatives from major partner States and international and regional organizations and agencies.

A set of documents, including a Ministerial declaration, targets, and a plan of action, was adopted. According to the concluding documents, all non-machine-readable passports are expected to be removed from circulation by the end of 2017, with API to have been introduced by all African States by the end of 2020.

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