The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasized the importance of strengthening security cooperation at the international and regional levels with security agencies in Africa and addressing the root causes of terrorism, as well as the need for the participation of all United Nations entities in expanding cooperation with African countries in terms of technical assistance, identifying gaps in building capacity and support for the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).
This was stated in a speech delivered by the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Kingdom to the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom to the United Nations, Adviser Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Atik, at the eighth meeting of the United Nations Global Coordination against Terrorism, which took place today. Committee to agree on a strategic discussion (strengthening international and regional cooperation to counter growing terrorist threats) in Africa in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
And he pointed out that the Kingdom cooperates in the field of security with many countries on the African continent, especially in terms of sharing information, experience and large-scale training, noting that the Kingdom cooperates closely with its partners around the world and those involved in the fight against terrorism. with the aim of countering and limiting it in Africa.
He noted that the Kingdom has contributed to the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT), which is the main assistant in building the capacity of Member States, including African countries, through counter-terrorism projects and programs in line with the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. .
He also pointed out that the instability in a number of African countries has created the conditions for terrorist groups to infiltrate and illegally obtain numerous sources of funding through the exploitation of natural resources such as gold mines, hostage-taking in exchange for ransom, collection of money in areas they control, and bribery, and drug smuggling.
Al-Atiq stressed that the Kingdom extends its hand to all the fraternal and friendly countries of Africa, is interested in bilateral and collective actions to maintain stability on this continent, is interested in work and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
