President Bola Tinubu is set to inaugurate the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja today, marking the commencement of a two-day event geared towards fostering regional cooperation and institution building.
Organized by Nigeria, with the support of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the summit will convene from April 22 to April 23, 2024, under the theme: ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism.’
The Presidency, through Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, highlighted the summit’s primary objectives, emphasizing the need to bolster multilateral counter-terrorism efforts while reshaping the international community’s collective response to terrorism in Africa.
Ngelale underscored the significance of African-led and African-owned solutions in combating terrorism, indicating the summit’s focus on fostering indigenous strategies to tackle the menace.
The summit is expected to draw a diverse array of participants from across the African continent, including heads of state, government officials, representatives of international organizations, multilateral institutions, members of the diplomatic corps, and civil society groups.
This broad spectrum of attendees reflects the collaborative approach necessary to confront the multifaceted challenges posed by terrorism in Africa.
The event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions aimed at facilitating knowledge sharing, fostering partnerships, and devising innovative strategies to counter the evolving tactics of terrorist organizations. Participants will explore various dimensions of counter-terrorism, including intelligence sharing, border security, counter-radicalization efforts, and capacity building.
Highlighting the summit’s significance, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, are slated to deliver closing remarks on Tuesday. Their insights are expected to encapsulate the outcomes of the summit and outline actionable steps to strengthen regional cooperation and institutional frameworks for combating terrorism in Africa.
As the threat of terrorism continues to pose a grave challenge to peace, security, and development in Africa, the African Counter-Terrorism Summit serves as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to forge collective strategies, enhance coordination, and mobilize resources in the fight against this scourge.
