Morocco Warns of Rising Terrorism Threat in Africa at Global Counterterrorism Forum

The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which was created in 2011, is a global body that includes 29 countries in addition to the European Union (EU). The main mission of the GCTF is to reduce the dangers of terrorism through the prohibition, prosecution of terrorist acts and the fight against the advocacy of terrorism.

It was therefore during the 10th ministerial meeting of the Forum that Nasser Bourita, who co-chaired it with his Dutch counterpart, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, drew the audience’s attention to the significant financial resources available to terrorist groups.

The Minister stressed that fallacious extremist ideologies and violent rhetoric continue to spread among the most vulnerable segments of the population. This is why Morocco calls for "a particular focus on the fight against terrorism in Africa."

Indeed, the continent recorded four times more victims in 2018 than in 2012. And, just in the first six months of this year, Africa has experienced 200 terrorist attacks that have killed more than 5,000 civilian and law enforcement victims.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Sahel region, which hosted a single terrorist group in 2010, now has more than 10. The Moroccan diplomat warned against the worrying rise of violent radicalism in Africa, which could endanger not only the future of the continent but also global stability.

This is why, adds the Minister, it is absolutely necessary to consolidate the commitment of the GCTF member countries to combat the scourge of terrorism that affects all regions and jeopardizes peace, stability and development in the world.