The Russian Federation has committed to establishing a partnership with several African nations to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
This announcement was made during the recently concluded Ministerial Conference on the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in Sochi, Russia.
“We strongly condemn all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism, which are never justifiable, regardless of motivation or context. We denounce terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever, whenever, and by whomever it is committed. We reject the politicisation and double standards in countering terrorism,” stated the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and African States in a joint declaration.
“We emphasise the importance of continuing to implement the provisions of the Declaration on Strengthening Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, adopted at the Second Russia-Africa Summit (St. Petersburg, July 28, 2023) by the Heads of State and Government of the Russian Federation, African countries, representatives of the African Union, and other leading African integration associations,” the declaration added.
Ministers from 40 African countries, alongside their Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, expressed a keen interest in developing joint initiatives to counter international terrorism. They confirmed that efforts should focus on suppressing the activities of international terrorist organisations and their affiliates, as well as preventing terrorism, while adhering to international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international refugee law.
The Ministers affirmed their commitment to addressing the various factors and root causes that contribute to the expansion of terrorist organisations in Africa.
“We condemn the misuse of information and telecommunications networks for terrorist purposes, including planning, radicalisation, recruitment, and financing,” they stated.
They expressed their support for an open and constructive counter-terrorism dialogue and cooperation, emphasising the development and implementation of measures to disrupt and suppress terrorist organisations and their funding channels, including knowledge-sharing on emerging risks and threats.
Additionally, they advocated for strengthening cooperation among competent authorities in exchanging information, in accordance with national legislation, regarding the activities of terrorist organisations.
The Ministers urged the continuation of coordinated preventive and investigative measures to counter terrorism and violent extremism that facilitates terrorism, as well as to address terrorist financing, the use of the internet for terrorist purposes, and transnational organised crime.
The joint declaration expressed a strong desire from both sides to organise events aimed at exchanging experiences in combating manifestations of terrorism, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals associated with terror-related activities.
“(We support) strengthening efforts to prevent terrorism and fight against violent extremism, conducive to terrorism, through the exploration of means to develop a de-radicalization policy; Exchange of experience and expertise in de-radicalisation policies, combining political, economic, social, cultural and religious measures as well as the involvement of public institutions and civil society,” they stated in the communiqué.
The Ministers also called for sharing experiences between the law enforcement agencies of Russia and several African countries, focusing on both training personnel and involving Russian experts in field training alongside state law enforcement officers and staff from relevant UN peacekeeping missions.
They expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration between Russia and specific specialised agencies in Africa to combat the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
“We confirm the importance of dynamic and ongoing coordination with various relevant international and regional intergovernmental organizations and structures to strengthen the capacity of African States to prevent radicalization and combat terrorism and the financing,” they emphasised.
They believe that effective cooperation in combating terrorism and violent extremism that supports terrorism remains a crucial aspect of Russia’s ongoing relationships with African States.
