Algeria Advocates for Activating African Mechanisms in Counter Terrorism

The Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of African Affairs, Selma Bakhta Mansouri, reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to its African and historical obligations in the fight against terrorism and its readiness to continue actively contributing to this collective dynamic in the service of the goals of peace, stability, and sustainable development on the continent.

Speaking at the opening of the expert consultative meeting on the strategic plan for counter-terrorism action, held Monday in Algiers, Mansouri stated that “terrorism is no longer a circumstantial phenomenon or confined to specific geographical areas, but has transformed into a transnational threat, adapting and fueled by complex interactions that combine transnational organized crime, illicit economies, illegal resource trafficking, and the increasing exploitation of modern technologies.”

During the meeting, which brought together a select group of experts and specialists from various African regions and institutions, the Secretary of State explained that “Africa now bears the brunt of this threat, accounting for more than 70% of global terrorism victims. This constitutes a structural crisis that undermines the states’ authority, jeopardises development, and fuels cycles of instability.”

Based on this assessment, Mansouri added, “At the Extraordinary African Union Summit held in Malabo in 2022, African heads of state and government called for a review and strengthening of the continental response to counter-terrorism. This initiative falls within the mandate entrusted to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in his capacity as the African Union’s Leader for Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism, and aims to mobilise political will at the highest levels and consolidate African ownership of counter-terrorism strategies.”

Given the nature of these challenges and their interconnected dimensions, the Secretary of State explained, “There is a clear need for Africa to strengthen its presence and role as an influential strategic actor in the international fight against terrorism through a more coherent and integrated continental approach based on a clear vision and the consolidation of strategic sovereignty.”

In this context, Mansouri called for the activation of proposed continental mechanisms, foremost among them the Special Fund for Counter-Terrorism, the African Arrest Warrant, and the African List of Terrorist Entities, as well as the activation of the Peace and Security Council’s Sub-Committee on Terrorism. She asserted that strengthening the human, technical, and financial capacities of specialised African mechanisms, particularly the African Standby Force, AFRIPOL, the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA), and the African Centre for Counter-Terrorism, is “a crucial element in ensuring the effectiveness of any collective response.

In turn, the Deputy Director of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), Idriss Mounir Lallali, stated that this meeting, organised by the AUCTC under the auspices of the African Union Commission, represents a crucial platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation among African Union member states. He confirmed that countering terrorism and violent extremism requires continuous coordination among national, continental, and international institutions.

The same spokesperson emphasised that Algeria plays a pivotal role in the African Union’s efforts to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism, explaining that Algiers’ hosting of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre and its active participation in African and international mechanisms reflect the country’s unwavering commitment to peace and security on the continent.

Lallali pointed out that Algeria’s contribution to the establishment of legal and procedural instruments to counter terrorism, such as the 1999 Convention, the 2002 Continental Action Plan and the 2004 Additional Protocol, makes the country a key focal point for the collective African vision.