Nigeria urges AU to intensify efforts against illicit terror financing in Africa
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to strengthen its efforts in combating illicit financial flows, identifying them as a primary driver of terrorism and violent extremism across Africa. Speaking virtually at the 1354th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that access to illicit funds enables terrorist groups to recruit youth and acquire sophisticated weapons. She urged the Council to advocate for stronger international cooperation in preventing, tracing, recovering, and returning proceeds of illicit financial flows from safe havens to countries of origin. The Minister highlighted that terrorist groups are becoming more resilient, exploiting emerging technologies like drones and digital platforms, and funding their activities through kidnapping for ransom and mining precious minerals. Nigeria condemned all acts of terrorism and violent extremism, expressing solidarity with victims and commending armed forces. Odumegwu-Ojukwu also noted that the spread of terrorism in West Africa has been used to justify unconstitutional changes of government. She called on the AU and member states to implement commitments from the 2022 Malabo Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism and the 2024 High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting in Abuja. She cautioned against portraying Africa as the global epicenter of terrorism, which could lead to profiling of innocent Afr
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