Africa Focus Group of Global Coalition against ISIS warns against threats of separatist groups
The Global Coalition against Daesh Africa Focus Group, co-chaired by Morocco, the United States, Italy and Niger, has voiced deep concern over the impact of the proliferation of non-State actors on efforts to counter ISIS in Africa.
In a joint statement released following its meeting held March 1-2 in Niamey (Niger), participants said the proliferation of separatist movements in Africa destabilizes certain African states and creates conditions on the ground that ultimately favor Daesh and other terrorist and violent extremist organizations.
The Africa Focus Group is African member-led and represents a collaborative, civilian-focused counterterrorism effort intended to enhance the counterterrorism capabilities of African members of the global coalition against Daesh.
In Niamey, 38 Coalition members and observers participated in a two-day Africa Focus Group meeting that highlighted various counter-Daesh initiatives on the continent, facilitated regional-based discussion on addressing the ISIS threat and identifying gaps in counterterrorism capabilities in the Coastal West African states, the Sahel region, East Africa, and Central and Southern Africa.
The Group endorsed the Africa Focus Group Action Plan that committed the Global Coalition to strengthen border security, collect biometrics of known and suspected terrorists, protect and utilize battlefield evidence, counter ISIS propaganda & recruitment and counter terrorist financing.
The Africa Focus Group meeting and the Co-Chairs affirmed that the Global Coalition against Daesh remains committed to confronting and defeating ISIS in Africa and elsewhere in the world, wherever it operates.
US Deputy Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ian J. McCary, who took part in the meeting, praised, Morocco’s efforts in the global coalition against Daech, and stressed that Morocco is a model in the fight against terrorism and extremist ideologies and a pioneering partner of the United States.
Morocco made a lot of success in the fight against terrorism. It is a model to be followed, said McCary.
The Africa Focus Group aims to enhance the fight against ISIS by engaging with interested global Coalition members, coordinating with other regional and multilateral entities on existing initiatives on countering ISIS terrorism financing, supporting stabilization efforts in liberated areas, deterring foreign terrorist fighter flows and countering ISIS violent extremist messaging to vulnerable populations.
