UN Security Council set to discuss counter-terrorism in Africa

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Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed addresses the Security Council’s high-level debate on counter-terrorism in Africa, seated next to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, which holds the Council presidency for November. UN Photo/Loey Felipe

NEW YORK - The United Nations Security Council [UNSC] is this evening set to discuss violent extremism in Africa with help of the African Union and other regional organizations which are directly responsible for the security within the continent especially countries like Somalia.

Recently, a report done by the United Nations showcased increasing cases of terrorism in Africa, further causing concerns among stakeholders. Felipe Nyusi, the president of Mozambique, led the meeting which discussed the current situation across the continent, necessitating a high-level meeting.

The southern African nation is currently facing resistance from ISIL-affiliate Ahl al-Sunna Wal-Jama'a [ASWJ] in its northern Cabo Delgado Province and another group called Al-Shabaab. While there are two groups with similar names in Somalia, there is no evidence that they are related in any way.

Already, southern African nations have dispatched troops to Mozambique to help encounter the militants under Mission in Mozambique [SAMIM] who have been instrumental in destroying the structure of the militants. Largely, Mozambique has managed to liberate many areas from the group.

Tuesday's council meeting will focus on promoting effective practices, maximizing international cooperation, encouraging development initiatives, and tailoring the global counter-terrorism strategy to meet Africa's specific needs. This is the first time the council is sitting to discuss security in the whole of Africa.

Fundamentally, the meeting will feature counterterrorism initiatives such as the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel [FC-G5S], the AU Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS/AMISOM], the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF], the Accra Initiative, and the Nouakchott Process.

Last week, the council held a private meeting where it discussed the Somali Transition Plan [STP] and National Security Architecture [NSA] with representatives from African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], European Union and African Union all attending.

It is anticipated that by December 2024, the Somali National Army would have taken over security responsibilities from the ATMIS Force, a move that necessitated the ongoing crackdown against the group. On Monday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched the second phase of Al-Shabaab operations across the country.

The funding shortfall for ATMIS was also addressed, with the AU appealing to bilateral and international partners to close the $90 million funding gap. The EU committed €143 million to support ATMIS and the Somali National Army [SNA[, while the US, China, and Gulf states are also expected to contribute.

Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti pledged to send more non-ATMIS troops to help the country effectively tackle the militants in the second phase and already, those from Addis Ababa have started arriving. The government of Somalia has also promised to sustain its operations with the help of international partners.

GAROWE ONLINE

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