Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 59 percent of all terrorist deaths. Africa: UN Security Council discusses ways to combat growing terrorism threat Peace and Security
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed painted a grim picture of the worsening terrorism crisis in Africa at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, calling for immediate and coordinated global action to address it. The meeting, which was held at the initiative of Algeria, which holds the presidency of the Security Council in January, noted the devastating impact of extremism on the continent and proposed ways to combat it.
“Significant threat”
“Africa, sadly, remains the epicentre of global terrorism,” said the Deputy Secretary-General. “Terrorism in all its forms today poses the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development on the African continent.”
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 59 per cent of all terrorist deaths, with the Sahel region the epicentre of the crisis, Mohammed said. Violent attacks in coastal West Africa have increased by 250 per cent in two years.
She cited recent attacks, which she said underscored the urgent need to act. “On 8 January, Benin suffered its most fatal attack since 2021, when at least 28 soldiers died near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger. Days earlier, extremists attacked a military base in Sabon-Guide, Nigeria, killing six soldiers,” she said.
Three priorities
In her call for action, the Deputy Secretary-General outlined three priorities: addressing the root causes of terrorism, implementing human rights-based approaches and strengthening regional cooperation. “Terrorism thrives where there is instability, poverty, inequality and frustration,” she said. “When social services become scarce or unevenly distributed, conditions are created for radicalization and recruitment.”
She stressed the importance of inclusivity, calling for the involvement of women, youth and vulnerable groups in the decision-making process. “Too often, counter-terrorism measures result in unjustified human rights violations, which undermine trust in state institutions,” Mohammed said.
The Role of the UN Security Council
Concluding her remarks, the Deputy Secretary-General invited the international community to join forces to overcome the crisis through African-led measures.
“The Security Council plays a critical role in supporting the African Union’s counter-terrorism initiatives, which are based on African leadership,” she said. – Let us commit ourselves to eradicating terrorism both in Africa and around the world.”
Innovations in the Fight against Terrorism in Africa
In his speech to the Security Council, Interpol Deputy Special Representative to the UN Dominic Bahorera stressed the importance of global coordination of counter-terrorism efforts and information sharing. According to him, Interpol actively cooperates with the UN and regional organizations, such as the African Union, adapting global initiatives to the specific needs of the continent.
He also recalled that Interpol’s resources contain data on 132 thousand terrorists and help process incoming information and generate investigative leads. “Effective counter-terrorism relies on robust analytics and high-quality data, including biometrics, provided by Member States,” he stressed.
Speaking about technical support, Dominic Bahorera noted that INTERPOL provides comprehensive assistance to African states, including border and maritime operations, as well as training and capacity building for law enforcement officials.
Several regional operations were carried out in 2024, resulting in the arrest of 121 individuals, as well as the confiscation of weapons, drugs and counterfeit goods. “These operations highlight the links between terrorism and organised crime, with terrorists using the infrastructure and resources of criminal networks to finance their activities,” he said, stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach in the fight against terrorism.