Abuja, April 25 (QNA) – The State of Qatar has affirmed its commitment to continuing cooperation, coordination, and support for African countries in eliminating terrorism globally, including in Africa.
This came in a statement delivered by HE Vice-Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee Major General Dr. Nasser Saeed Al Hajri at a high-level African counterterrorism meeting held in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
His Excellency pointed out that the briefings presented during the meeting sessions highlighted terrorist groups, their crimes, areas of activity, methods of operation, and the threats they pose, particularly in Africa. He noted that terrorists exploit conflicts and turmoil and exacerbate them. He emphasized the transboundary and regional nature of terrorism, making combating terrorism in Africa not only a critical issue for African nations but also a central element in global efforts to combat this scourge and a matter of concern for all.
His Excellency mentioned the State of Qatar’s commitment global counterterrorism efforts, its eagerness to partner with African countries, and its belief in the importance of international cooperation and partnership. His Excellency noted that these were the drivers for Qatar’s participation in this conference and supported its convening, in addition to its commitment to supporting the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
His Excellency expressed Qatar’s appreciation for the efforts of the Office in organizing international and regional conferences, including this conference, and coordinating international policies, knowledge, and efforts, providing technical assistance, and capacity-building to member states, especially in Africa, including through the International Center for Counter-Terrorism.
HE Al Hajri stressed that it was essential to study and keep pace with the evolving terrorist threat, thereby identifying the sources of danger and priorities, and developing the necessary strategies and initiatives to confront it. His Excellency also stressed the necessity of identifying shortcomings and successes to benefit from best practices and solutions. He emphasized that African countries bear the primary responsibility for combating terrorism and that effective measures must be owned and implemented by Africans. He added that there should be a collective and coordinated response, alongside regional and international partners, including the United Nations and all members of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Agreement.
He further added that international support takes several forms, including technical and financial support in political and security areas. Affected African countries can benefit from technical assistance and capacity-building to enhance the capabilities of security forces and law enforcement agencies to deal with terrorist threats, ensuring compliance with international law and human rights in those efforts.
His Excellency said that it was encouraging that countries and international organizations are prioritizing counterterrorism efforts in Africa, as evidenced by this conference and the focus of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Agreement this year on the African continent. He also noted the enhancement of the Counter-Terrorism Office’s presence in Africa through the establishment of offices and programs in Kenya and Morocco, as well as the focus on Africa in numerous global program activities carried out by the Office and its partners, many of which are funded by Qatar.
His Excellency emphasized the importance of the joint call for counterterrorism in Africa to support multi-partner initiatives representing multi-party action to provide comprehensive and innovative responses to complex priority challenges across Africa, launched at a special event during the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week in June 2023, in which Qatar had the honor of participating in hosting that event.
His Excellency explained that Qatar has worked on developing and updating its capabilities in this field, in accordance with the national counter-terrorism strategy it developed and the legislation and implementing procedures it continues to develop. His Excellency said that Qatar has become a model in the field of counterterrorism, including in areas such as combating terrorism financing, where it has achieved positive ratings in implementing all recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). His Excellency noted that the State of Qatar has also enhanced its capabilities in utilizing technology to combat terrorism and border control, effective coordination between relevant national agencies, and harnessing emerging areas like behavioral insights to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
HE Al Hajri also said that the State of Qatar is already providing technical assistance to African countries, including through supporting initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of violent extremism, focusing on supporting educational, employment, and training opportunities through leading Qatari institutions like Silatech and Education Above All. (QNA)
