Addressing delegates at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria emphasized the critical link between illegal mining and terrorism financing. He called for international collaboration to dismantle terrorist financial networks, proposing the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism center to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination across Africa.
President Tinubu’s remarks underscored the gravity of the situation, highlighting that ignoring the connection between illegal mining and terrorism financing would be a grave mistake. He emphasized that external funding, rather than African resources, sustains these illicit operations, necessitating a united global effort to disrupt these networks.
Tinubu’s proposal for a regional counter-terrorism center received widespread support from delegates, who recognized the need for a centralized hub to coordinate efforts against terrorism on the continent. The center, if established, would facilitate intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building, bolstering Africa’s collective ability to combat terrorism effectively.
In addition to proposing new initiatives, Tinubu stressed the importance of addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice, which fuel terrorism. He advocated for a comprehensive approach that tackles both the symptoms and underlying factors of the scourge.
Furthermore, Tinubu called for the strengthening of existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit in Abuja and the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers. He emphasized the need to maintain and enhance these structures to bolster Africa’s counter-terrorism capabilities.
International partners, including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, lauded Nigeria’s leadership in counter-terrorism efforts and pledged support for Africa-led solutions to address the terrorist threat.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative action, recognizing that only through concerted efforts can terrorism be effectively countered in Africa.
President Tinubu’s call for global cooperation underscores the urgency of the terrorist threat in Africa and the need for collective action to disrupt terrorist financing networks and address root causes.
As the continent grapples with the challenge of terrorism, initiatives such as the proposed regional counter-terrorism center offer hope for a more coordinated and effective response to this pressing security concern.
