The Aqaba Process, initiated by His Majesty King Abdullah II, is an important vehicle for developing both a shared understanding of the challenges posed by terrorism and for identifying solutions and creating networks that can help mitigate the risks it poses to international peace and security.
Despite Member States’ considerable efforts, Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates have expanded and intensified their activities in parts of Africa, causing considerable suffering and setting back human development and security.
The interplay between terrorism, armed conflict, transnational organized crime, intercommunal violence, and socio-economic grievances is aggravating the situation. So, too, is the exploitation of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, access to and use of small arms and light weapons, and online efforts, including through video games, to recruit operatives and generate resources.
In the two-plus decades since the United States embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, we have learned that, while continued pressure against terrorist forces is still needed, a human rights-compliant, rule of law-based, gender sensitive and whole-of-society approach to preventing and countering terrorism remains the only effective strategy for long-term success.
I wish you fruitful deliberations that help us build a future without terrorism.
Thank you.