Symposium on fight against Terrorism opens in Algiers

 Symposium on the Fight Against Terrorism and Organised Crime in the Sahel region began today Algeria – Sofian Si Yousif The International Symposium on the Fight Against Terrorism and Organised Crime in the Sahel region began today. Held at the Palais des Nations in Algiers, it was attended by Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger , as well as partners from outside the region and Security Council representatives. The conference will last for two days.
The meeting follows meetings held in March 2010 in Algeria and in May 2011 in Bamako, which saw the “establishment of rules of cooperation on politics, military affairs, intelligence and regional development.”
In his opening speech, the Minister for North African and African Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, said that the “four countries have developed a unified strategy to address terrorism, transnational organised crime and poverty. We will be talking about this strategy and our different approaches.”
Messahel also said that Algeria will work hard to achieve its objectives, but stressed the need for cooperation between all countries across the region.
“The current situation requires us to coordinate, especially in light of the Libya crisis, which may cause many dangerous weapons to be smuggled the region as nationals return home from Libya. We also need to create a unified strategy to promote development across the Sahel.”
The Foreign Minister of Niger, Mohamed Azum, said that his government considers the symposium of “great importance and is looking forward to Algeria playing a leading role in the region. Algeria is one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the Sahel.”
Azum spoke of the Libyan conflict, which had seen weapons spread across the region. He argued that al Qaeda has subsequently found a base in Niger, with recent clashes between Niger’s army and terrorist groups revealing a major terrorist weapons store. He believes that this is further evidence that countries need to work together to save the region. However, Azum contested that the problem is not only about drugs. He believes that the recent terrorist attacks in Algeria and Moroccan are further evidence of the need for an organisation committed to combating terrorism. In addition, economic and social problems throughout the region are helping to increase the problem of criminality, which is why we must also concentrate on international investments in order to better the economy and reduce the danger of terrorism.
The Foreign Minister of Mali, Somailo Yombai Miga, highlighted that the region faces challenges, including poverty, criminality, drugs, which need to be rectified quickly through economic and social progress. He added that more than 50 tonnes of cocaine passes through the region’s borders to Europe and the rest of the world every year; a problem closely linked to terrorism as terrorist groups often traffic drugs to fund their violent activities.
Baba Weld Hamdi, the Mauritanian Foreign Minister, said that fighting terrorism has become a key global goal because it poses a risk across the world. He believes that there is a need for a region-wide plan. As the region spans eight million square kilometres and too big to be physically defended, member states need to coordinate to target the problem through alternate means.
The representative of Fighting Terrorist Organisations in Africa (AFRICOM), Vela Rosa, confirmed American support for the Algerian efforts in fighting terrorism and violent crime, expressing the US’s “condolences to the victims of the August attack on an Algerian military academy. On behalf of Barack Obama and the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, we want to emphasise that we are willing to work with the region to decrease the incidence of terrorism and weapons smuggling, which has been increased by instability in neighbouring countries. We support social and economic progress which we believe will reduce the incidence of terrorism.”
Carter Ham, the representative of the US Africa Command confirmed that the US and Africa must work together in the fight against terrorism. “I confess that the US has been late in taking this issue seriously, but I promise that we in AFRICOM will work seriously to help you achieve with stability and safety.”
The representative of the French President Nicholas Sarkozy also complimented the Algerian role in fighting terrorism. France has adopted the new plan to combat terrorism and calls on all the countries to embrace the plan immediately so that terrorist groups can no longer pose a threat.
The British Representative, Robert Sevick, also supported Algeria’s plan, highlighting that “we in Britain are against paying ransom to terrorist groups because this strengthens terrorist groups and encourages them to kidnap more people.”
Manuel Lopez, the coordinator of strategy and implementation in the EU emphasised that the conflict in Libya has created a very sensitive situation in the Sahel, facilitating weapons smuggling across borders. He also complimented the Algerian effort in fighting terrorism. Lopez considers Algeria a very important partner in the Sahel region and has said that “the EU adopted a new strategy with the Sahel region and I urge member countries to take meaningful steps on the ground as soon as possible.”
Before starting the session, the Algerian minister for North African and African affairs, Abdel Qader Musahil welcomed the delegates and thanked them for their commitment to regional cooperation in fighting terrorism and crime.