President,
I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country Norway.
Let me start by commending the Algerian presidency for focusing on counterterrorism under its presidency. Algeria has through its own experiences demonstrated that it is possible to effectively reduce the threat of terrorism and violent extremism and plays an important role in the international counterterrorism efforts.
ISIL, al-Qaeda, and their regional affiliates continue to constitute a serious threat to peace and security in Africa, exploiting weak governance, local grievances, poverty, and conflicts.
Their presence in the Horn of Africa and East Africa is a matter of growing concern. Equally, the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel remains deeply worrying. So too are the emerging spill-over effects to coastal states and potentially to North Africa. Other regions of the continent, such as Central Africa and Mozambique, also continue to face a high number of attacks with many civilian casualties as a result.
We agree that security-centered interventions are not sufficient to eliminate terrorism in Africa. UNDP’s landmark report series "Journey to Extremism in Africa” presents compelling reasons to prioritize investments in prevention strategies and peacebuilding, giving root causes and local community resilience particular consideration. Furthermore, two decades of counterterrorism efforts have taught us that governments alone cannot eliminate terrorism. Let me highlight three points.
First, to be effective, interventions must be designed and implemented with the support from, and in collaboration with, local communities. For these efforts to succeed, they must be truly African-owned and -led. African countries have the main responsibility for their security and development, but the international community should provide adequate support.
Second, the adoption of Security Council resolution 2719 represents a milestone in providing predictable and sustainable financing for AU–led peace support operations. The Nordic countries attach great importance to the resolution’s provisions on the African Union compliance frameworks on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Experience shows that violations of such fundamental norms will undermine any counter-terrorism effort.
Third, there is a need for enhanced African and sub-regional cooperation. It is deeply regrettable that some countries have opted for leaving a well-established mechanism such as ECOWAS. We urge the countries of West Africa to resolve this matter diplomatically. We also encourage a stronger coordination between the AU and subregional organizations, as well as initiatives such as the Accra Initiative, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, and the Académie Internationale de Lutte Contre le Terrorisme.
Our ambition is that the AU initiative “Silencing the Guns” will succeed and that there will be tangible progress in the implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN SDGs. It is vital to make local communities more resilient to external shocks, including the effects of climate change. A resilient community would also mean providing a better future for Africa’s young population and helps oppose recruitment efforts by terrorist groups.
It has also been documented that local communities with a high degree of gender equality are more resilient to violent extremism. Women, in line with SCR 1325 and youth should always be an integral part of any counter-terrorism effort.
We have both policies, institutions and mechanisms in place to respond effectively to violent extremism in Africa. Now, we must mobilize political will and work better together to fully realize their potential.
Thank you.