Morocco’s strategy to combat terrorism in Africa highlighted at UN Security Council meeting

Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presented the Kingdom’s comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism in Africa during a public debate at the UN Security Council in New York this week, according to the North Africa Post.

Hilale outlined Morocco’s approach, which rests on four fundamental pillars. They are focused on strengthening security and the legal framework, enhancing economic and human development, preserving religious identity, and promoting regional and international cooperation.

He said a central component of Morocco’s strategy is fostering moderate Islam. Hilale emphasized the pivotal role played by the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema and the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates. These institutions assist countries in educating their religious leaders, promoting tolerance and countering extremist ideologies. Hilale noted that 100 Malian imams recently graduated from the institute as part of these efforts.

The ambassador also highlighted what he labeled alarming connections between separatist movements, terrorism, and cross-border crime.

“These pernicious alliances do not only sow terror,” he stated. “They divide fragile communities, exploit the structural vulnerabilities of societies, and fuel a cycle of persistent insecurity in Africa.”

Hilale’s remarks resonate with warnings from U.S. counterterrorism officials about the escalating threat of ISIS in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region.

“The ISIS threat in Africa is, in our view, potentially one of the greatest long-term threats to U.S. interests,” Brett Holmgren, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center under the Biden administration said in a Politico interview in November. “They’ve clearly prioritized Africa as a growth opportunity.”

Another senior U.S. official expressed similar concerns, describing the Sahel as a “ticking time bomb.” Allowing the threat in the region to grow unchecked, the official warned, would lead to far-reaching consequences for global security.