United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, Front) speaks at a Security Council high-level debate on countering terrorism by strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie E)
"The trail of terror is widening, with fighters, funds, and weapons increasingly flowing between regions and across the continent, and with new alliances being forged with organized crime and piracy groups," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
UNITED NATIONS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday reaffirmed the world body's solidarity with Africa in the fight against terrorism, while warning "trail of terror" is widening across the continent.
Terrorism tightens its grip by seeking out and exploiting weaknesses and instability in political, economic and security systems, he said.
"No age, no culture, no religion, no nationality and no region is immune. But the situation in Africa is especially concerning," Guterres told a Security Council high-level debate on countering terrorism by strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations.
Despair, poverty, hunger, lack of basic services, unemployment and unconstitutional changes in government continue to lay fertile ground for the creeping expansion of terrorist groups to infect new parts of the continent, he said.
The UN chief expressed deep concern by the gains terrorist groups are making in the Sahel and elsewhere.
"The trail of terror is widening, with fighters, funds, and weapons increasingly flowing between regions and across the continent, and with new alliances being forged with organized crime and piracy groups," he said.
Meanwhile, Guterres pointed out that the fight against terrorism is bringing African countries together.
"We see this across Africa, which is home to a number of regional counter-terrorism initiatives," he said. "From joint efforts in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique and beyond."
The United Nations stands with Africa to end the scourge of terrorism, Guterres said, pointing to many UN efforts including ongoing close collaboration with the African Union and regional and sub-regional African organizations.
According to Guterres, the UN is co-organizing with Nigeria an upcoming African Counter-Terrorism Summit, and is strengthening collaboration on important peace initiatives such as the Independent High-Level Panel on Security and Development in the Sahel.
The eighth review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in June, co-facilitated by Canada and Tunisia, will be a critical opportunity to find new ways to more effectively tackle structural conditions that create fertile ground for terror to spread, said Guterres. ■
