Security Council Briefed on Evolving terrorist Threat, Especially in Africa
The Security Council received a briefing today from the heads of three subsidiary bodies focused on Da’esh, Al-Qaida, UN counter-terrorism efforts, and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors. The briefing highlighted the continuing evolution of the terrorist threat, particularly in Africa, with malign actors increasingly leveraging new technologies.
Sandra Jensen Landi (Denmark), Chair of the Committee concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates, stated the threat “remains dynamic and geographically diverse,” with Africa being a primary area of concern. Groups are exploiting social media for recruitment, fundraising, and glorifying violence, while the use of cryptocurrency presents a growing challenge to sanctions implementation. She reported that da’esh and Al-Qaida have proven “resilient, adaptive and opportunistic,” exploiting instability, weak governance, and emerging technologies. The Committee approved 19 of 32 travel-ban exemption requests but none of the seven asset-freeze exemption requests, maintaining a sanctions list of 252 individuals and 89 entities.
In her national capacity, Landi welcomed resolution 2734 (2024), which recognizes sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of terrorism and grounds for listing under sanctions, urging increased listing of relevant persons and entities while upholding human rights and the rule of law.
Amar Bendjama (Algeria), Chair of the committee concerning counter-terrorism, echoed concerns about an evolving threat centered in Africa. Terrorist groups are expanding their use of the Internet, social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and gaming platforms for propaganda, recruitment, fundraising, and operational planning. Growing links with organized crime and the increased use of unmanned aircraft systems were also highlighted. The Committee conducted assessment visits to Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Somalia and Turkmenistan, and focused on facilitating technical assistance and promoting implementation, ensuring compliance with international law and integrating gender perspectives.
Bendjama, speaking in his national capacity, urged the next Committee Chair to “listen to those who suffer terrorism’s impact daily,” prioritize substance over process, and remember the human tragedy behind every statistic.He also spotlighted the “Algeria Guiding Principles” addressing terrorist exploitation of cryptocurrency and emerging financial technologies.
Eloy Alfaro de Alba (Panama), Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), emphasized the resolution’s importance in strengthening non-proliferation efforts by addressing the threat posed by non-State actors, particularly for terrorist purposes.He announced a training course for national points of contact in Latin America and the Caribbean, to be co-organized with Panama from December 15-17 in Panama City, and detailed efforts to update the mechanism for matching Member States’ requests and offers of assistance. The Committee held four formal meetings during the reporting period.
Okay, let’s have an informal, interactive dialogue about enhancing counter-terrorism in West Africa, the Sahel, and beyond, based on the provided text. I’ll play the role of a facilitator, and you can be a representative of a nation or organization involved in counter-terrorism efforts. We can explore the issues raised in the text and brainstorm potential solutions.
To start, let’s set the stage: The text highlights a growing concern about the shifting terrorist threat towards Africa, the rapid evolution of terrorist tactics (especially with new technologies), and challenges within the UN’s counter-terrorism mechanisms (specifically the 1267 Committee).
I’ll begin by posing a question, drawing from the text:
The representative from Somalia stressed the need for an “agile and unified” response to the adaptable nature of groups like Da’esh and Al-Qaeda. Considering the situation in the Sahel, and the potential spillover from Afghanistan as mentioned by the Russian Federation, what specific, practical steps can be taken to foster this agility and unity in counter-terrorism efforts across West Africa and the Sahel?
Think about things like data sharing, joint training exercises, financial support, or addressing root causes.
I’d like to hear your thoughts. Please indicate which nation/organization you are representing as you respond. (e.g., “I’m representing the African Union…” or “I’m representing France…”)
Important Note: I will be actively fact-checking our discussion as we go, using my web search capabilities to ensure we’re grounded in reality. I’ll flag anything that seems inaccurate or requires further investigation. Let’s aim for a productive and informed conversation!
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