In a joint statement released by the Governments of the United States of America, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS Africa Focus Group, underscored its commitment to tackling the persistent threat posed by ISIS affiliates in West Africa.
The statement follows the group’s meeting on November 15 in Cotonou, Benin.
Key Points:
- Collaborative Mechanism: The Africa Focus Group, co-chaired by Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, convened in response to an invitation from the Republic of Benin. This collaborative mechanism aims to coordinate civilian-focused counterterrorism assistance to enhance the counterterrorism capacity of African members within the Defeat-Daesh/ISIS Coalition.
- Regional Security Challenges: The meeting, attended by 28 Coalition members and observers, focused on addressing regional security and counterterrorism challenges posed by ISIS affiliates in the Coastal West Africa region.
- Recognition of Persistent Threat: The Coalition acknowledged the ongoing and persistent threat that ISIS affiliates present to the people of West Africa.
- Coordination with Multilateral Initiatives: The agenda included coordination with other multilateral initiatives, with insights shared by Coalition partners engaged in the Accra Initiative, the G-5, the Coalition for the Sahel, and the Aqaba Process. UNOCT, as a Coalition observer, briefed on the planned Africa summit in spring 2024.
- Four Pillars of Action Plan: The Focus Group is concentrating efforts on its action plan’s four pillars:
– Strengthening and enhancing border security, biometric collection, and battlefield evidence capabilities.
– Countering ISIS propaganda, recruitment efforts, and building community resilience.
– Improving Coalition member capabilities to reduce ISIS’s use of illicit finance.
– Countering malign influences that diminish counterterrorism efforts.
- Reaffirmation of Commitment: Participants emphasized ongoing frank and open exchanges, with a commitment to sharing and developing best practices. The group will continue to build partner capacity and assist countries seeking counterterrorism assistance.
- Commitment to Confronting Daesh/ISIS: The Co-Chairs of the Africa Focus Group emphasized the Global Coalition’s unwavering commitment to confronting and defeating Daesh/ISIS in West Africa and globally, regardless of its operational areas.
