New York: Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Bannai, has highlighted the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) focus on counter-terrorism efforts in Africa. Speaking at the Security Council's open debate on counterterrorism in Africa on behalf of GCC member states, Al-Bannai emphasized the importance of concerted efforts to combat terrorism across the continent.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Bannai discussed the outcomes of the GCC supreme council's meeting, which took place in Kuwait on December 1, 2024. During the meeting, GCC members stressed the need for intensified joint action and coordination among African Union (AU) members to identify effective strategies to combat terrorist groups and disrupt their funding sources. A notable initiative mentioned in the meeting's final communique was Kuwait's proposal to host the Fourth Dushanbe Conference, which will, for the first time, include African countries, allowing GCC members to directly address AU concerns and work towards shared objectives.
Al-Bannai further highlighted that the international coalition against Daesh serves as a crucial platform for developing strategies to tackle terrorism. Representing GCC states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, he expressed support for efforts to maintain international peace and security, stressing the necessity for enhanced international and UN efforts to counter extremist ideologies that threaten Africa's stability, development, and economic growth.
He underscored that terrorism poses significant threats to international security, especially in Africa and the Sahel region, and called upon the global community to support African-led solutions to these challenges. Al-Bannai praised the changes introduced by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to address these challenges, which were announced at a meeting in Abuja last April.
In reaffirming the GCC's commitment to fighting terrorism, Al-Bannai pointed to the need for increased international support for countries most affected by terrorism, in alignment with UN Security Council resolutions. He advocated for enhanced technological collaboration and partnership-building among relevant parties to eliminate terrorism.
Al-Bannai concluded by expressing the GCC's anticipation of implementing the outcomes of the Dushanbe conference, with plans to hold a high-level congress in New York in 2026.