• About Us
  • Who Are We
  • Work With Us
Thursday, August 11, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Globe Post
39 °f
New York
44 ° Fri
46 ° Sat
40 ° Sun
41 ° Mon
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

African Nations Should Invest in Young People to Tackle Terrorism: UN Chief

Imogen Francis by Imogen Francis
07/10/19
in Featured, World
People fleeing in CAR

One of the poorest and most unstable countries in Africa, the Central African Republic plunged into chaos after president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was ousted in a coup in March 2013. Photo: AFP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The younger generation of Africans should be involved in the fight against ongoing terrorism in the region, the United Nation’s Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday. 

At the opening of a counter-terrorism conference in Nairobi, a city which endured its own terrorist attack earlier this year, Guterres advised African nations to invest in young people to tackle the spread of terrorism especially in West Africa and the Sahel where armed militias are frequently carrying out attacks against civilians. 

To create a lasting and stable future for Africa, Guterres said, it was essential to have young people involved in the stabilization process, especially through investing in education, training, employment, and job creation.  

“Young Africans should also be fully involved in developing and implementing strategies and activities to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism,” he said. “I hope this conference considers practical ways to harness the creativity, energy, and power of young people to strengthen resilience against terrorism and build more peaceful, just and inclusive societies.”

These young people in Nairobi are using education to improve their job prospects & turn their backs on violent extremism.

Education & job creation must be at the heart of all efforts to push back against radicalization. pic.twitter.com/koILTr5mAA

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 9, 2019

With frequent terrorist attacks gripping Africa, Guterres emphasized that the radicalization of young people does not happen in a vacuum and that there are many external factors contributing to people joining militias.  

“Narratives of grievance, actual or perceived injustice and promised empowerment become attractive wherever human rights are being violated, good governance is being ignored and aspirations are being crushed,” he said. 

In a U.N. Development Programme study, it was found that lack of education and poverty were two key factors that lead to radicalization, however, 71 percent of those surveyed said government actions and abuse were the defining factor in them joining a terrorist group. 

“There needs to be a renewed and sustained focus on prevention, including addressing the underlying conditions that cause young men and women to be lured by terrorism,” Guterres said. 

The international community must step up their support for African-owned and African-led efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

Fighting terrorism & preventing extremism in Africa is essential to preserve peace & security in the world. pic.twitter.com/3Ia1sq8a2i

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 10, 2019

He also highlighted the work people in Africa have been doing to secure their region, especially women. 

“The role of women is inspirational in so many ways,” he said. “All over the continent women are taking matters into their own hands engaging with local leaders, mayors, young people, children, and their fellow man to fight against exclusion, marginalization, inequality, and abuse – the conditions that led many to radicalization and conflict.”  

Additionally, Guterres said that African states have been continuously working to stabilize the region by implementing the U.N. Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism at national and regional levels. He now believes it is time for the international community to do their part by investing in the area.

“It is now time for the international community to step up and provide the financial and technical resources needed to support African-owned and led counter-terrorism efforts, while fully respecting human rights, the rule of law and gender considerations,” he said.

Combating Energy Poverty: The Rise of Off-Grid Energy in Africa

ShareTweet
Imogen Francis

Imogen Francis

Contact her @squimo

Related Posts

Antonio Guterres
World

UN Chief Warns Humanity ‘One Miscalculation Away From Nuclear Annihilation’

by Staff Writer
August 1, 2022
refugees
World

More Than 100 Million People Forcibly Displaced, UN Says

by Staff Writer
May 23, 2022
plastic
Environment

UN Agrees to Create ‘Historic’ Global Treaty on Plastic Trash

by Staff Writer
March 2, 2022
wisconsin-christmas-parade-car-attack
National

Vehicle Strikes Christmas Parade in Wisconsin, Killing Five, Wounding 40

by Staff Writer
November 22, 2021
aliban fighters react to a speech by their senior leader in the Shindand district of Herat province, Afghanistan
Middle East

Young Afghan General Takes Fight Against Taliban to Social Media

by Staff Writer
August 12, 2021
Somalia
World

Civilians Flee Homes Amid Fears of Fresh Violence in Somalia

by Staff Writer
April 27, 2021
Next Post
Mohammed bin Salman

Press Rights Group Made Secret Riyadh Mission to Urge Journalists' Release

migrants at a US detention center

How to Help Migrant Children Detained at the US Border?

Recommended

Marina Ovsyannikova

Russian TV Journalist Faces Jail Time for Anti-Putin Protest

August 10, 2022
Mar-A-Lago raid

FBI Raid on Trump’s Home Ignites Political Firestorm

August 9, 2022
Ukraine nuclear plant

Ukraine Calls for De-Militarization of Occupied Nuclear Plant

August 8, 2022
Toru Kubota

Myanmar Junta Charges Japanese Journalist With Encouraging Dissent

August 4, 2022
Nancy Pelosi

Taiwan Defiant as China Readies Military Drills Over Pelosi Visit

August 3, 2022
Protesters stand with placards in front of the statue of India's independence leader Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square, central London, after a demonstration outside the US Embassy

Considering the Patience of Gandhi for These Troubled Times

August 5, 2022

Opinion

Protesters stand with placards in front of the statue of India's independence leader Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square, central London, after a demonstration outside the US Embassy

Considering the Patience of Gandhi for These Troubled Times

August 5, 2022
US President Donald Trump

Owning the Words and the Libs

June 16, 2022
Officers in Uvalde, Texas, stand outside Robb Elementary School near a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims

Child Sacrifice Makes a Comeback

June 3, 2022
A Lebanese election official stands at a polling station

New Group Threatens Lebanese Elections… and Potentially Middle East Peace

May 18, 2022
A man holding a gun

Safely Back in USA, Land of Guns and Burgers

May 2, 2022
China Muslim Uyghurs

Unfair Politicization, Corruption, and the Death of Modern Olympism

April 23, 2022
Facebook Twitter

Newsletter

Do you like our reporting?
SUBSCRIBE

About Us

The Globe Post

The Globe Post is part of Globe Post Media, a U.S. digital news organization that is publishing the world's best targeted news sites.

submit oped

© 2018 The Globe Post

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • World
  • Business
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Democracy at Risk
    • Media Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Columns
    • Book Reviews
    • Stage
  • Submit Op-ed

© 2018 The Globe Post