Communiqué of the 1182nd Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, Held on 27 October 2023, on the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on Counter-Terrorism in Africa.

Abstract

Council took note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on Counter-terrorism in Africa and expresses deep concern over the expanding and worsening scourge of terrorism and violent extremism on the Continent and reiterated the call on all Member States to refrain from inciting, instigating, organizing, facilitating, participating in financing or encouraging terrorist activities while encouraging them to take necessary measures to ensure that their respective territories are not used as terrorist sanctuaries. Further, Council called on Member States to effectively regulate the importation, movement, storage, distribution and use of materials and components that can potentially be used for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Council also underlined the need for (i) Expediting the establishment of the AU Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism and the operationalization of the African Counter-Terrorism Coordination Task Force (A2CTF) (ii) Full operationalization and activation of the PSC Sub-Committee on Counter-Terrorism; and the operationalize the AU Special Fund on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa (iii) Reviewing the Continental Counterterrorism Framework and (iv) Accelerating the change of name of the ACSRT to the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), and the review of its status and structure, to align the center with international bodies.

Finally, Council appealed to Member States to generously make voluntary financial contributions and to provide technical support to AU efforts against terrorism and violent extremism.