President Bola Tinubu has highlighted the issue of foreign funding for illegal mining and terrorism in Africa, stating that it poses a significant threat to peace, security, and development on the continent. He made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day African High-Level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the UN Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in Abuja.

Tinubu emphasized that terrorism is evolving, continuously finding ways to finance, re-equip, and re-supply itself for its sinister missions. He pointed out that billions of dollars, which could have been used by legitimate governments for societal development, are instead being diverted to fund terrorism. He particularly highlighted the connection between illegal mining and terrorism, stating that international intervention is necessary as it is outside money, not African money, that fuels illegal operations.

In combating terrorism, Tinubu stressed the need to address its root causes, such as poverty, marginalization, and social injustice. He called for concrete actions rather than empty rhetoric. Additionally, he advocated for the strengthening of existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA). He also emphasized the importance of a Regional Standby Force with a mandate to tackle terrorism.

Furthermore, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized the need for integrated security strategies to combat terrorism in Africa. He highlighted various factors driving terrorism, including organized crime, foreign terrorism financing, poverty, inequality, and prolonged conflicts. Ribadu mentioned Nigeria’s efforts in addressing the drivers of violent extremism and enhancing intelligence gathering.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, underscored the unprecedented threats faced by Africa due to terrorism. He mentioned Nigeria’s push for greater cooperation on counter-terrorism and efforts to tackle the proliferation of small arms in Africa.

UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, called for addressing the underlying causes of terrorism and rebuilding affected communities. She emphasized the role of social exclusion, inequality, and human rights violations in creating terrorists.

UNOCT Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, praised Africa’s efforts in countering terrorism and emphasized the importance of international support for African-led solutions. He stressed that no single actor could resolve the continent’s challenges alone.