Amina Muhammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, highlights the alarming rise in terrorism-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, calling for urgent and coordinated action to counter this growing threat. She emphasizes the need to address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, inequality, and weak governance, while strengthening regional cooperation and supporting African-led initiatives.
Sub-Saharan Africa now accounts for nearly 59 percent of all terrorism-related deaths globally, despite continued efforts by member states to end it, according to UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Muhammed. She made this known on Tuesday during a UN Security Council meeting on the maintenance of international peace and security. The discussion was themed, 'African-led and development-focused counter-terrorism: strengthening African leadership and implementation of counter-terrorism initiatives.
' According to Ms. Muhammed, terrorism-related deaths have soared past 6,000 in the past three years, making up more than half of all global fatalities. She said Burkina Faso now leads the world in terrorism deaths with a staggering 68 percent increase, and with little support to reverse the trend. 'Africa has tragically remained the epicentre of global terrorism. In all its forms and manifestations, terrorism is the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development across the continent today,' Ms. Muhammed noted. She said terrorists frequently exploit and brutalize women through sexual and gender-based violence, including forced marriages and abductions, causing profound trauma that reverberates through entire communities. She said terrorist networks are now pooling resources, finances, fighters and expertise, while sharpening their capabilities of new technologies, including unmanned aerial systems. 'Countering terrorism must continue to innovate with an approach that holds the respect for human rights and the rule of law at its core and an outcome that addresses the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. African member states, with the full backing of the international community, must forge cohesive and conducted responses grounded in humanitarian development peace nexus and aligned with the guiding principles of the global counter-terrorism strategy,' she said. She said the pact for the future, agreed in September 2024 by UN member states, gives renewed momentum to global efforts against terrorism, adding that now is the time to implement promises made in the pact with determined action. Ms. Muhammed highlighted three priority areas with the first being the need to continually address the drivers of terrorism. 'When financing development regresses, when fragile institutions are matched with weak governance, and when women and youth are excluded from decision-making, when public services are scarce or unequal, these conditions create fertile ground for radicalization and recruitment. Building inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies must be our goal and we have a road map to get there. The 2030 agenda, and in Africa, the 2063 agenda need to be implemented. Ms. Muhammed further said regional cooperation was the linchpin of any effective counter-terrorism strategy, adding that fragmenting efforts would serve perpetrators. 'Our responses must be united, coherent and urgent, focused on fostering dialogue, trust and coordinated action. The African Union and its counterterrorism center have a leading role to play, but we must go further. Above all, we must ensure that regional efforts are in lock step, unified in purpose and aligned with the strategy,' allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material,, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 400 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC
TERRORISM AFRICA SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SECURITY UNITED NATIONS COUNTER-TERRORISM HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL COOPERATION BURKINA FASO AMINA MUHAMMED
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cisco and AWS Elevate Collaboration and Customer Experiences with New Media Point of Presence in Sub-Saharan AfricaCisco and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have launched a game-changing collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa, introducing a local Media Point of Presence for Cisco Cloud Calling and Cloud Contact Center. This initiative promises to enhance call quality, streamline collaboration, and improve customer experiences across the region.
Read more »
South Africa and Rwanda Battle for Africa's Sole Formula 1 Grand Prix SlotSouth Africa and Rwanda are vying for the opportunity to host the return of Formula 1 to Africa, with the two countries making bids to bring the grand prix back to the continent after a 32-year absence.
Read more »
South Africa Leads Africa in Identity Document Fraud, Home Affairs Urges Migration to Smart ID CardSouth Africa is number one on the continent when it comes to identity document fraud, and Home Affairs has urged citizens to switch to the Smart ID Card.
Read more »
South Africa's Role in Africa's Gun Violence Under ScrutinySouth Africa faces criticism for its contribution to gun violence in Africa, with arms exports and civilian gun ownership fueling criminal activity and conflicts across the continent. The Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) and the African Union (AU) have launched a joint initiative to combat the spread of firearms, aiming to reduce both supply and demand through strengthened controls and addressing root causes.
Read more »
Africa House Future Forum Davos 2025: Shaping Africa's Innovative FutureThe Africa House Future Forum Davos 2025 will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20th to 24th, 2025. The forum will explore Africa's potential in technology, creativity, and sustainable development, bringing together global leaders, visionaries, and experts to discuss critical issues and shape a future where Africa thrives.
Read more »
Unlock the value of Azure, M365: Free assessments to optimise your cloud journeyThe Westcon-Comstor assessments provide actionable insights that can help partners elevate the value delivered to end customers, says Michelle Themelis, Microsoft business lead at Westcon-Comstor Sub-Saharan Africa.
Read more »