Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africa News
Published on 2024-02-16 10:35:26
The U.N. counter-terrorism chief, Vladimir Voronkov, has expressed concern over the rising threat of the Islamic State extremist group in West Africa and the Sahel. Despite significant progress by U.N. member nations in countering the threat, IS continues to pose a significant threat to international peace and security, especially in conflict zones. Voronkov highlighted that IS has increased its operations in its former strongholds in Iraq and Syria, as well as Southeast Asia.
Specifically focusing on West Africa and the Sahel, Voronkov noted that the situation has deteriorated and become more complex. Local ethnic and regional disputes have intersected with the agenda and operations of the extremist group and its affiliates. He warned that the affiliates of IS are operating with increasing autonomy from the core group, posing the risk of a vast area of instability emerging from Mali to the borders of Nigeria.
Natalia Gherman, executive director of the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, expressed concern over the exploitation of political instability by IS in the Sahel. She stated that the terrorist group is expanding its radius of influence, operations, and territorial control in the region, with growing concerns for coastal West Africa.
Gherman further emphasized that the African continent now accounts for almost half of terrorist acts worldwide, with the central Sahel region accounting for about 25% of such attacks. Voronkov, as the head of the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism, stressed that countering the threat of terrorism in Africa remains a priority for his office.
In addition to the challenges in West Africa and the Sahel, enduring challenges persist in the Middle East and Southeast and Central Asia. U.N. experts have indicated that IS is attempting to resurge in these sub-regions.
While IS suffered defeats in Iraq and Syria, there are still between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters associated with the group. Voronkov also noted that the organization’s financial reserves are currently estimated to be between $10 million and $25 million, down from hundreds of millions a few years ago. He stated that government efforts to tackle IS financing are producing results, but the group still poses a significant threat.
In terms of positive developments, Voronkov pointed out that the delay in naming a new leader for IS reflects internal challenges and difficulties in ensuring the new leader’s security. Additionally, terrorist activity by IS affiliates in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Mozambique has been reduced by effective counter-terrorism efforts.
In Afghanistan, efforts by the country’s Taliban rulers have reportedly impacted the ability of the IS affiliate to conduct attacks inside the country. However, U.N. experts have described ongoing ties between the Taliban and al-Qaida.
On the technological front, Gherman highlighted the use of new technology for terrorist purposes. She pointed to IS’s increasing use of drones for intelligence gathering and attacks as an example. The U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee is working with the 193 U.N. member states to address this issue.
In collaboration with U.N. counter-terrorism officials, Interpol is working on a project to help law enforcement identify and prevent the exploitation of enablers such as encryption services, video distribution tools, and new propaganda platforms for terrorist purposes. They are also focusing on collecting data on links between organized crime and terrorist groups, particularly in regions like North and West Africa.
In combating terrorism, Interpol is concentrating on biometrics, border security, and battlefield information. This multifaceted approach demonstrates the global effort by U.N. member nations and international organizations to counter the threat of IS and other extremist groups.
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