During his intervention during this meeting held on the sidelines of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Bourita emphasized the urgency of concerted action adapted to African realities, while recalling the importance of the African continent in global efforts to combat terrorism.
He insisted on the need to act proactively and effectively, saying that “African solutions to African problems must not be a pretext for inaction or submission to pre-established formulas.”
Bourita added that Africa cannot afford to wait for rigid structures to act on its behalf, stressing that it is time to adopt a dynamic and direct approach, supporting the efforts of national counterterrorism structures. as well as African plurilateral initiatives.
The Minister also highlighted the crucial role of the GCTF in anticipating emerging threats, particularly on the African continent. The Forum, recognized for its ability to identify trends in terrorism and formulate appropriate recommendations, must continue to play a proactive role in preventing and responding to terrorist threats, he said.
He insisted on the importance of African initiatives in the fight against terrorism, such as the “Marrakech Platform of security chiefs and counter-terrorism agencies in Africa”, developed with the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism. Terrorism (ONUCT), dedicated to strengthening regional collaboration between African security actors in the fight against terrorism, as well as the “Abuja Process” and the “Accra Initiative”.
These models of regional collaboration constitute successful examples of coordinated efforts, which must be integrated into the broader strategies of the GCTF to strengthen their effectiveness, noted Mr. Bourita.
The minister also highlighted the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Program Office based in Rabat as an example of successful cooperation, effectively localizing global initiatives to meet the specific needs of the region.
Bourita called, in conclusion, for strengthening the institutional capacities of the GCTF and its affiliated institutions, with contextually adapted capacity building programs, which enable local institutions to better manage and mitigate terrorist threats.
The GCTF is a forum that brings together 32 member countries and partners most active in the fight against terrorism, and which aims to strengthen international cooperation with a view to developing strategies and good practices to combat violent extremism. and terrorism in all its forms.
Morocco co-chaired this forum for three successive mandates from 2015 to 2022, during which it consolidated its leadership role in global efforts for peace and security in Africa and the world.