Sierra Leone Statement At The UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate On Counter-Terrorism In Africa: African-Led And Development-Focused Counter-Terrorism: Strengthening African Leadership And Implementation Of Counter-Terrorism Initiatives

STATEMENT BY
H.E. ALHAJI MUSA TIMOTHY KABBA
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellency Minister Ahmed Attaf.

1. I thank the Algerian presidency of the Security Council for convening this high-level open debate on “Countering Terrorism in Africa.”
2. I also thank Her Excellency Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security of the African Union (AU), and Said Djinnit, Senior Advisor to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Conflicts (ACCORD), for their valuable insights on this critical issue.
3. In light of the recent heinous terrorist attacks in the Point Trible area of Benin, which resulted in numerous casualties, I express our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Benin.
4. Regrettably, terrorism and violent extremism have escalated dramatically across Africa in the last decade, with the Sahel and part of the West Africa region now recognized as the new epicentre of terrorist activity.
5. We recall the Secretary-General’s Nineteenth Report on the threat posed by ISIL (Daesh) to international peace and security, as well as his report on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. Both reports underscore the expansion of terrorist groups in the Sahel, leading to substantial casualties and undermining regional stability.
6. The terrorist threat in Africa not only directly impacts the lives of those in the region but also poses a significant challenge to international peace and security, creating complex obstacles for sustainable development worldwide. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by these threats, bearing the brunt of insecurity and inequality. Additionally, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in kidnappings for ransom and hostage-taking as terrorist financing tactics.
7. Sierra Leone unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and is fully committed to combating and supporting efforts to defeat this scourge, regardless of who the perpetrators may be.

Mr. President,

8. Terrorist groups are increasingly adept at forming alliances and exploiting existing grievances, conflicts, poverty, and unemployment. They take advantage of ungoverned spaces and the vulnerabilities of porous borders, through which arms, drugs, explosives, funds, and people move largely unchecked.
9. The evolution of global terrorism is most evident in West Africa and the Sahel, where some of the most violent Da’esh affiliates have expanded their operations. Groups such as al-Qa’ida and ISIS affiliates now control vast territories, exploiting the suffering of millions. Countries in the central Sahel, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as neighbouring States like Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, face attacks by terrorist groups like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), targeting both security forces and civilians.
10. Despite being signatories to the Algiers Peace Agreement, the Cadre Stratégique Permanent pour la Défense du Peuple de l’Azawad (CSP-DPA) remain active in Mali, carrying out fewer but deadlier attacks. In the Lake Chad Basin, insurgent attacks replicating the Boko Haram/ISWAP tactics have heightened concerns about a broader relapse into violence. As Nigeria continues to face the Boko Haram insurgency, there is a growing risk of the conflict spilling over into other coastal States.
11. The insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, driven by Islamist militants aiming to establish an Islamic state, is also deeply troubling. The violence has displaced countless civilians and exacerbated the region’s humanitarian crisis. This Council is fully seized of the threat posed by Al-Shabaab to Somalia and the East African region.

Mr. President,

12. Addressing the security, economic, and governance challenges posed by terrorism in Africa requires multidimensional, African-led solutions, with global support. Allow me to offer a few reflections on this matter.
13. First, we must address the root causes of terrorism by acknowledging the socio-economic challenges faced by the continent, such as the lack of inclusive, people-centred policymaking. We need to strengthen governance structures and develop processes that promote meaningful participation from all stakeholders in decision-making.
14. We must also implement non-kinetic responses that address the pressing issues of poverty, youth unemployment, drugs and transnational crime, poor service delivery, human rights abuses, and corruption. In regions like West Africa and the Sahel, where youth comprise the largest demographic, it is crucial to rebuild the social contract and invest in young people’s potential, ensuring that they can create and thrive in inclusive environments.
15. We must combat the disillusionment that drives thousands of young people to join terrorist groups, offering them an alternative path of hope and opportunity through development, community-building, and engagement. In doing so, we must prioritize the needs of women and girls, who are often the most affected by insecurity and marginalization.
16. Second, while the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the challenges posed by terrorism demand responses tailored to local contexts, with essential roles for regional and subregional institutions.
17. The African Union has made significant strides in addressing terrorism on the continent, including the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government (2022), the operationalization of the AU Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism, and the development of a Comprehensive Continental Strategic Plan of Action on countering terrorism.
18. At the subregional level, our commitment to eradicating terrorism in West Africa remains steadfast, including through the ongoing operationalization of the Counter-terrorism Plan of Action. We also acknowledge the efforts of ECOWAS, as outlined in the Final Communique of the Sixty-sixth Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government of 15 December 2024, which notes with concern the continued challenges to security and stability in the region fuelled by the activities of terrorist armed groups and violent extremists, transnational organised crime and criminality, resulting in the loss of life and property.
19. We continue to note with concern the disengagement with ECOWAS and the security vacuum created by MINUSMA’s closure. We also take note of the dissolution of the G5 Sahel and the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and welcome concerted efforts to strengthen collaborative mechanisms between the AES and the wider West Africa region in creating inclusive solutions to issues such as cross-border security and counterterrorism. There are opportunities for advancing these common objectives through the five-year MOU between the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and ECOWAS which addresses support for institutional and human capacity building in the region to better address the multi-dimensional nature of counter-terrorism.
20. As part of Sierra Leone’s commitment to countering this grave threat, our Attorney-General tabled at Parliament the Bill entitled “The Counter Terrorism Act, 2024” last week. Once enacted into law, the Act will provide for offences of terrorism and terrorism-related matters, enforcement measures on terrorist funds and other assets, prohibition of financial support to terrorism, and related issues. Sierra Leone is proud to have supported regional initiatives across Africa and been part of troop and police-contributing countries.
21. Third, regional initiatives such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin, the AES, the Accra Initiative, and the Nouakchott Process must receive the full support of the international community. We welcome the Security Council’s support for African Union-led peace support operations, as outlined in Resolution 2719, and its readiness to consider appropriate support for these operations on a case-by-case basis.
22. We reiterate the call for adequate, flexible, predictable, and sustainable financing for African peace operations. This funding is essential for enabling peace enforcement in regions where peacekeeping efforts are diminishing. We also urge the full implementation of Resolution 2457 and support for the African Union’s goal of “Silencing the Guns” on the continent.
23. In conclusion, President, Sierra Leone emphasizes the importance of information sharing and collaboration among governments, institutions, the private sector, and security actors across borders to successfully address the proliferation of terror groups and their destructive activities. Collective resources will lead to better outcomes and are critical in rebuilding our defences against terrorism. While counterterrorism successes are often hard-won and take place behind the scenes, we have seen positive results, such as the MNJTF’s efforts to neutralize 140 extremists, arrest 57, and facilitate the surrender of 176 militants between January and September 2024.
24. We once again call on the Security Council to use all its multilateral tools to advance peace, security, and counterterrorism efforts in Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel. The adoption of the Pact for the Future provides a unique opportunity to renew our commitment to multilateralism and to strive for a future free from terrorism, building a more peaceful and secure world for all.

I thank you.