African Experts Hail Algeria’s Pioneering Experience in Combating Eerrorism, Extremism
African experts and members of the League of Scholars, Preachers, and Imams of Sahel countries commended Algeria’s pioneering experience in combating terrorism and extremism, considering it a model to be emulated in order to achieve security and stability across Africa, particularly in the Sahel region.
This came during their participation in a high-level scientific seminar on religious diplomacy in the African Sahel, organized by the League of Scholars, Preachers, and Imams of Sahel countries in cooperation with the High Islamic Council, with the participation of 11 African countries.
The representative of Niger to the League of Scholars, Preachers, and Imams of Sahel countries, Ibrahim Musa Suleiman, highlighted the importance of religious diplomacy in laying the foundations for security and stability and in resolving the crises facing the Sahel region, stating that Algeria possesses a “pioneering experience” in this field and is capable of playing an “important role” in combating terrorism, extremism, and radicalism.
For his part, Ahmad Murtala, Director of the Center for Quranic Studies at Bayero University in Nigeria, praised Algeria’s approach in this field, as well as its role in resolving crises in Africa and confronting foreign ambitions targeting the continent’s resources. He stated that Algeria’s experience is “a model we seek to emulate and from which we strive, as much as possible, to benefit, especially under the current circumstances.” The speaker also highlighted Algeria’s experience in combating extremism, stressing that his country is in dire need of such an approach, and the empowerment of women as a means of safeguarding society and achieving security and stability.
Similarly, the representative of Mali to the League, Cheikh Alfa Dahia Konta, commended the Algerian experience and called for drawing on it to overcome the complex challenges facing the Sahel region.
Regarding the seminar, he emphasized that it is of paramount importance to all those involved and represents a valuable opportunity to benefit from the participants’ experiences, calling for giving due attention to imams and religious leaders in confronting extremism and terrorism in the Sahel region.
The representative of Mauritania to the League, Moussa Sarr, stressed the importance of activating religious diplomacy to combat violence and extremism, highlighting the role of this high-level scientific seminar in raising awareness and promoting understanding of this matter.
He further affirmed that traditional approaches alone are no longer sufficient to counter extremism and terrorism, underscoring the necessity of a religious deterrent to address this phenomenon at its roots.
