Morocco Reinforces Commitment to Combating Terrorism in Africa

Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita reaffirmed the country's dedication to combating terrorist groups in Africa, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle the growing threat of terrorism on the continent. Bourita made the statements during the meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, where an African think tank was launched, co-chaired by Morocco, Niger, Italy, and the US. The minister expressed concerns about the expansion of terrorist groups in Africa, citing the fact that 27 terrorist entities based in Africa are now on the UN Security Council sanctions list, responsible for the deaths of 12,500 people in 2020.

Key Takeaways:

• Morocco has committed to combating terrorist groups in Africa, with an emphasis on collective action to tackle the growing threat of terrorism on the continent.
• The African think tank, launched during the meeting, is co-chaired by Morocco, Niger, Italy, and the US, with a focus on improving security and stability in Africa.
• Nasser Bourita stressed the importance of addressing the rise of drones and emerging technologies used by terrorist groups, as well as their financing through cryptocurrencies.
• The ongoing terrorist attacks in the Sahel and West Africa are alarming, with a total of 7,108 terrorist attacks in 2020 and over 1.4 million displaced due to increasing clashes in the region.
• The economic impact of terrorism on the African continent over the past decade is estimated to be $171 billion.
• Morocco has volunteered to co-chair the Africa Think Tank with Italy, Niger, and the US, with high hopes for the platform to exchange views and discuss future strategies to combat terrorism.
• The think tank will focus on key areas such as border security management, strategic and operational cooperation, and capacity building to equip African countries with the means to fight against terrorist attacks.

Statistics:

• 28 terrorist entities based in Africa are on the UN Security Council sanctions list.
• 12,500 people died in 2020 due to terrorist groups based in Africa.
• 7,108 terrorist attacks occurred in the Sahel and West Africa in 2020.
• 1.4 million people were displaced due to increasing clashes in the region.
• The economic impact of terrorism on the African continent over the past decade is estimated to be $171 billion.

Sources:

• The meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh.
• The launch of the African think tank co-chaired by Morocco, Niger, Italy, and the US.