Algerian FM: We have a major responsibility in shedding light on terrorism
NEW YORK (United Nations Headquarters) – Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, reiterated his concerns about the escalating terrorist threat in Africa, and that Monday’s high-level UN Security Council meeting initiated by Algeria seeks to highlight the worsening situation, noting the decline of terrorism in other regions of the world while it spreads and intensifies across Africa, accompanied by a rise in both the number of terrorists and their weaponry.
In an interview with the Algerian News Channel AL24 News, Minister Attaf noted that Algeria has observed the international community’s recent shift away from addressing terrorism in Africa and hopes the ministerial meeting on African terrorism will refocus global attention on this issue.
In this regard, he pointed out that terrorism in Africa now has distinct characteristics: while it has decreased in many parts of the world, it is expanding in Africa. Additionally, terrorist groups have grown in number, and their access to advanced weaponry has increased, enabling them to carry out “military-style” operations.
“It is no longer possible to talk about individual terrorist groups, but rather about terrorist armies, given the vast numbers these groups now command,”Minister Attaf said.
In this regard, Minister Attaf also stressed that the nature of terrorist operations in Africa has evolved. Rather than relying on random, brutal attacks, “these groups now demonstrate greater control over military tactics and strategies, reflecting the rising threat posed by terrorism on the continent.”
Accordingly, he emphasised the importance of bringing attention back to this issue, and reaffirmed that “this is a significant responsibility for Algeria, as President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is the spokesperson for Africa on this issue, entrusted with the authority to follow up on this matter on behalf of the African continent, a responsibility granted to him by his African counterparts.”
