Speaking at a Security Council meeting on terrorist risks threatening international peace and security, the member of the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations, Mr. Toufik Koudri, reaffirmed Algeria's commitment to implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and related Security Council resolutions, displaying "its readiness to share its experience and to continue developing comprehensive solutions combining security measures and prevention strategies."
"During its presidency of the Security Council, Algeria took the initiative on January 21 to organize a high-level meeting on the fight against terrorism in Africa, to sound the alarm on the critical situation resulting from the spread of terrorism in Africa," recalled Mr. Koudri, affirming that this "meeting was an important step in our collective approach to this threat," as evidenced, he said, by "the presidential declaration adopted by the Security Council, recognizing the institutional mechanism for the fight against terrorism of the African Union (AU) and the appointment of the AU Champion."
According to the Algerian diplomat, the importance of this meeting was manifested by the request of the Secretary General of the UN for annual updates on the joint efforts between the AU and the UN, which reflects the recognition by the international community of the urgent need to remedy the situation and of Africa's responses.
He added that the importance of this meeting held at the request of Algeria is also reflected in the results contained in the report of the UN Secretary General, the subject of today's meeting, which paints "an extremely worrying picture concerning terrorist threats, particularly in Africa, clearly reflecting reality."
In this wake, the diplomat affirmed that "the fight against terrorism in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, is being carried out by confronting heavily armed groups adopting developed military strategies, in addition to the increasingly complex means of financing terrorist groups (...) involving traditional methods, such as organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration, human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, new technologies, as well as financial innovations."
According to the diplomat, "this reinforces the importance of the principles of Algeria recently adopted by the Commission for the fight against terrorism for the treatment of these challenges."
Therefore, the member of the permanent mission of Algeria to the UN emphasized the main points, citing among others, the need to strengthen coordination between member states, regional organizations and UN bodies, in order to fight against terrorism.
Stressing that the evolving nature of threats, including those related to emerging technologies and developed means of financing, require the strengthening of international cooperation in addressing root causes, the same official recalled the Secretary-General's report which demonstrates how terrorist groups exploit underdevelopment, political instability, as well as marginalization.
Thus, the speaker continued, "it is essential that our response combines security measures and development initiatives, focusing particularly on creating opportunities for all categories of society."
Algeria also notes that "the increasing use of advanced technologies by terrorist groups requires a coordinated international response, capable of preventing this terrorist exploitation, while ensuring respect for the law."
"Based on Algeria's experience in the fight against terrorism, efforts can only succeed through institutional strength, global response, unity, resilience and national determination," concluded Mr. Koudri.