Support to fight terrorism ends up on agenda

ALTHOUGH African leaders are meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nairobi for trade, investment and development talks in the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad) summit, terrorism is at the back of their minds as they believe increased extremism and terrorism on the continent is a threat to development.

Kenyan President and summit host Uhuru Kenyatta and AU chairman and Chadian President Idriss Déby told the conference more resources had to be directed towards fighting terrorism.

Déby asked Japan and the international community to “contribute” to the AU fund against terrorism, set up during the recent AU summit in Kigali. “The threat of terrorism is an absolute threat, and it does compromise very dangerously all our development efforts and even endangers our future.”

For Kenyatta, the “borderless” element in counter-terrorism efforts is key to combating extremist groups. “Terrorism is threatening and even dismembering some states. Organisations practising this illicit and savage form of violence are spreading their cells throughout the world. No country or region is immune or distant.

“The terrorists are adept at exploiting open and democratic societies, and are trying to militarise any sectarian or political divide. Their negative impact on economies is often severe, as we have experienced here in Kenya, across Africa, and the world,” he said.

There was a need for partnerships to deal with terrorism on the continent. “We have also sharply increased our collaboration with neighbours and allies. To sustain this effort and destroy existing terrorist groups is going to demand even more effort in this direction,” Kenyatta said.

Abe said Africa required a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to ensure its voice was heard on security issues. – ANA