Morocco Calls GCFT Members to Address Core Foundations of Terrorist Ideologies

Moroccan foreign Minister Nasser Bourita called at a meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s 9th Ministerial Plenary Meeting for continuing the fight against terrorism and extremism by addressing the root causes of these calamities.

“Our approach should remain a strategic one, with a long-term perspective that goes beyond territorial victories to address the core foundations of terrorist and extremist ideologies,” said Bourita.

The Global Coalition against Daesh, which was formed in 2014 is co-chaired by Morocco and the Netherlands.

Bourita called for tackling the threats emanating from the misuse of the internet by terrorist recruiters who use digital platforms to spread extremist narrative.

Although the number of terrorist attacks dropped by 20% between 2015 and 2017, some 18,488 people lost their lives because of terrorist acts, he said.

Bourita alerted the international community to the dangers posed by ISIS foreign fighters who return to their homelands saying that the MENA region, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia are home to 93% of these fighters.

“These individuals require extreme and continued vigilance given the risks they pose in terms of incitement and recruitment; expansion of existing terrorist and criminal networks; and planning and execution of terrorist acts,” he said.

In light of the persisting terrorist threat, Bourita underscored the “critical role” of the GCTF, which has facilitated the development of effective policies and concrete measures to respond to the threats linked to terrorism and extremism.