Africa: The African Union is hosting an extraordinary summit on terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, under the theme: Robust Response, Deepening Democracy and Collective Security.
The summit will reflect on the state of terrorism, violent extremism and unconstitutional changes of government, with the aim of deepening constitutional governance and collective security in Africa.
The perpetuation of terrorist acts continues to be dominated by local terrorist groups affiliated with international terrorist networks.
Between 2012 and 2020, terrorist attacks on the continent increased fourfold. According to the African Union’s Algiers-based African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), several structural factors are responsible for the spread of the threat.
[English Audio] Opening Ceremony of Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of the Gouvernement, Malabo (Equatorial Guinea)https://t.co/5XlKOq4e2V
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) May 28, 2022
Chief among these are transnational organized crimes and financing of terrorism; proliferation of arms, the resurgence of the role of foreign fighters and mercenaries; political instability; chronic governance deficits and the resultant worsening poverty and inequality; deliberate misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religion; as well as weak defence and law enforcement response capacities.
Participants include Heads of State and Government of the AU Member States; members of the Executive Council; members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC); representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) & Regional Mechanisms (RMs); the African Union Commission and relevant AU Organs as well as selected partner organizations.
Moreover, Crime in Africa is a major socioeconomic problem caused by the uneven distribution of wealth and power and labour surplus.
Each country must integrate the fight against crime into its general social policy. Most crime in Africa is a result of poverty and high unemployment; black market business crimes are widespread.
Human trafficking is the major type of crime committed in Africa. In 2020, over 25,000 human trafficking victims were placed in Africa, the second-highest number worldwide after the South and Central Asian region.
