Terrorism: Coalition vows to defeat ISIS

 A coalition of some countries has expressed its determination to ensure the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in both countries and Africa.

The coalition, which includes Nigeria, is known as the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He unveiled the position on Wednesday in Marrakesh, Morocco, where he held his first ministerial meeting in Africa.

The Nigerian delegation was led by National Security Advisor (NSA), Babagana Mongono, a retired Major General.

Revealing details of the meeting, NSA spokesman Zakari Usman said in a statement that the coalition recognized that despite significant setbacks to ISIS’s leadership in recent times, the group continues to carry out attacks in Iraq and Syria and represents a constant threat.

He said the coalition also reiterated the importance of allocating adequate resources to sustain its activities and those of associated legitimate forces.

“Civilian-led efforts, including prevention, stabilization, countering terrorist financing, counter narratives, and the prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters are increasingly necessary to achieve the lasting defeat of ISIS. ”, the statement read.

The coalition’s stance comes as Nigeria battles ISIS elements in the northeastern part of the country.

Africa, particularly the Lake Chad region of which the north-eastern part of Nigeria is a part, is also fighting ISWAP terrorists who are believed to be affiliated with ISWAP.

Consequently, the coalition recognized the need to address the evolving threat of ISIS in Africa and welcomed the first three meetings of the Africa Focus Group, which took place in Brussels, Rome and Marrakech, which it believes will strengthen civilian-led counterterrorism capabilities of African members.

Read Mr. Usman’s full statement below.

NSA Monguno leads Nigerian delegation to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Morocco

As the Global Coalition Resolves to Strengthen Civilian-Led Counter-Terrorism Capabilities of African Members.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, National Security Advisor Major General Babagana Monguno (Ret.) led the Nigerian delegation to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ministerial Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS is an 83-member alliance established in 2014 to reduce the threat that ISIS poses to international security in general and the national security of member countries.

The 2022 meeting in Morocco was the first to be convened in Africa and presented an opportunity for the US-led Coalition to reaffirm shared determination to continue the fight against ISIS through both military- and civilian-led efforts to maintain pressure on ISIS remnants in Iraq and Syria and to counter its global networks, especially in Africa, where it has been undermining national security through the proliferation of affiliates.

In a joint statement issued by the ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS after the meeting in Morocco, the member countries affirmed that ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria remains a priority. 

The Coalition recognized that despite significant setbacks to the ISIS leadership in recent times, the group continues to carry out attacks in Iraq and Syria and poses a constant threat.

The Coalition also reiterated the importance of allocating adequate resources to sustain its activities and those of associated legitimate forces. “Civilian-led efforts, including prevention, stabilization, countering terrorist financing, counter narratives, and the prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters are increasingly necessary to achieve the lasting defeat of ISIS. ”, the statement read.

Importantly, the Coalition recognized the need to address the evolving threat of ISIS in Africa and welcomed the first three meetings of the Africa Focus Groups, which took place in Brussels, Rome and Marrakesh. The Africa Focus Group, the Coalition believes, will strengthen the civilian-led counter-terrorism capabilities of African members by building on experiences in Iraq and Syria and fostering synergies with other existing international, sub-regional and regional counter-terrorism efforts and initiatives.

The event also highlighted the importance of addressing the underlying causes of insecurity in Africa. The Coalition reiterated that any lasting solution to stop the spread of ISIS in Africa would depend primarily on national authorities, as well as sub-regional and regional efforts and initiatives that recognize and address the political and economic drivers of the conflict. 

To this end, Nigeria’s participation in the 2022 Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS was an opportunity to compare notes and share knowledge, as well as to network on strategies to minimize or eradicate national, sub-regional and regional threats posed by activities of terrorist groups. and violent extremists.

Recall that Nigeria and the United States co-chaired a virtual meeting of the same event in November 2020, where Nigeria’s position in the global coalition was strongly emphasized. 

Through the Counter Terrorism Center of the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), Nigeria highlighted, among other issues, that the challenges of global terrorism had had a negative impact on virtually every facet of human endeavour, including national security. , the economy, politics, the environment, and people’s lives and livelihoods, as is evident in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and parts of the north-east of the country.

Therefore, Nigeria expressed its readiness to seek further support and partnership within the activities and mandate of the Global Coalition Against ISIS to enhance its ongoing operations against terrorism and other national security threats, as well as efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism within the country and beyond.