Ministerial Meeting of Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS welcomes role of Africa Focus Group, Co-chaired by Morocco

The ministerial meeting commemorating the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS issued, Monday in Washington, a communiqué reaffirming the importance of the Africa Focus Group in the fight against terrorism in Africa.

The group, co-chaired by Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Italy, plays a central role in coordinating regional efforts to counter terrorist threats on the continent, the communiqué said.

The communiqué also commended the work of the Africa Focus Group in promoting an active role of African partners and highlighted the imperative to counter malign and non-state armed actors whose actions undercut counterterrorism cooperation and destabilize regions in which they operate, hence the need for close and coordinated collaboration with African countries under the aegis of the Africa Focus Group, the member countries of the Global Coalition pointed out.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who chaired the ministerial meeting, underlined in an opening address the importance of the Africa Focus Group in the fight against terrorism on the African continent and noted that the terrorist group Daesh is increasing its efforts to expand its operations outside the Middle East, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

“To tackle this growing threat, the United States, Italy, Morocco formed the coalition’s Africa Focus Group in 2021,” Blinken recalled, adding that Saudi Arabia joined this Focus Group last year.

The US official who highlighted the effectiveness of the operations carried out by the Focus Group said the efforts made by the group “helped African partners better align and coordinate to support civilian-led counterterrorism operations” in Sub-saharan Africa.

These efforts are particularly relevant at a time when “in sub-Saharan Africa, ISIS affiliates have gained ground, compounding the threat already present from existing militant groups,” said Blinken.

Three years after its creation, the Africa Focus Group has become an essential component of the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh in Africa, while current needs and emerging trends require the reinforcement of this dynamic.

The 11th ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, Chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, brought together delegations from 87 member countries, including Morocco, represented by minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. The ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition discussed ways to prevent a resurgence of ISIS and provide appropriate support to countries affected by the threat of this terrorist group.

Formed in 2014, this coalition is focused on degrading Daesh capabilities and ensuring its enduring defeat. The coalition’s members are committed to tackling the group on all fronts including dismantling its networks and countering its global ambitions.

It also aims to weaken Daesh’s financing and economic infrastructure, prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders, support stabilisation and the restoration of essential public services to areas liberated from Daesh and counter the group’s propaganda.