AU starts workshop on combating terrorism financing

THE AU Commission yesterday started a two-day workshop entitled “Legal instruments on combating the financing of terrorism through money laundering and financial crimes” for countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, in Addis Ababa.

The workshop is a follow-up to an earlier workshop on “Enhanced Approaches to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism in the SADC Region” that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from September 14 to 15.

That workshop highlighted the dynamic nature of the terrorism threat, not only in Africa but globally, and called upon the AU Commission and partners to support and enhance the capacities of countries of the region to develop appropriate response options to tackle the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

The current workshop is, therefore, held as part of the efforts of the Commission to support member states to meet their national, regional, continental and global obligations in the prevention and combating of terrorism and violent extremism.

The workshop aims to brief member states on regional and international policy frameworks on money laundering and financial crimes related to countering financing of terrorism.

According to Dr Tarek Sharif, head of the AU Defence and Security Division (AU DSD), terrorism remained a major challenge to peace, security and stability of AU.

“It diverts the limited national resources from the badly needed national socio-economic development programmes to the security sector – thereby impeding the efforts towards the realisation of the desired prosperity for communities,” Sharif told the workshop. – ANA