African Action Against Terrorism Must Be Top Priority, Tebboune Affirms
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in his capacity as the African Union's Champion for Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa, affirmed that confronting terrorism must remain at the forefront of joint African action. Speaking during the extraordinary session of the African Union Conference of Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Angola, President Tebboune highlighted the alarming expansion of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region. He warned that this threat extends beyond peace, security, and development, directly impacting the existence, institutions, and stability of states across the continent. He also extended gratitude to Angola for hosting the session focused on strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms.
President Tebboune underscored the urgent necessity of enhancing and coordinating continental efforts, intensifying collective action, and fostering the exchange of information and expertise among all African Union member states to effectively counter this menace. He stressed that bolstering the operational capabilities of the African Union is crucial for confronting the evolving terrorist threat. In this context, President Tebboune expressed satisfaction with the progress made in reinforcing the African Union's anti-terrorism mechanisms, noting the adoption of the comprehensive Continental Strategic Action Plan and the activation of the African Peace and Security Council's Subcommittee on Terrorism. These pivotal proposals were initially put forward by Algeria.
Furthermore, President Tebboune called for strengthening coordination among the various components of the African Peace and Security Architecture, including the African Standby Force and its regional capabilities, specifically North African capacities. He reiterated Algeria's consistent position that combating terrorism requires addressing its root causes through a coordinated and integrated approach encompassing security, political, and developmental dimensions. The President emphasized that African efforts to solidify the institutional framework for counter-terrorism require the international community's support, stating that Africa's success in this fight is a global success, and failure would have far-reaching consequences beyond the continent.
