Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad Nasser Bourita has highlighted the need for multilateral action as the only option to effectively combat terrorism.
In a pre-recorded video message shown to the attendants of a high-level UN meeting concerning counterterrorism at Rabat, Bourita stressed that terrorism represents one of the most difficult contemporary challenges facing Africa, recalling that 60% of terrorism-related deaths in the world took place in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.
“Multilateral action against terrorism is no longer optional, but the only option,” he said, drawing attention to the countries that have tried to fight the threat individually but failed.
The minister reiterated that Morocco has taken concrete measures in the field since 2021, when the first headquarters of the UN’s Office of Counterterrorism Program Office in Africa opened in the country.
Since the opening of the office, Bourita noted that Morocco “has spared no effort to politically and financially support the mission and activities of the office,” adding that it has become a reliable knowledge center and regional hub for counterterrorism on the continent.
Morocco’s counterterrorism efforts have been under the spotlight in recent years, through local officials as well as international organizations and think tanks.
Earlier this month, Bourita himself reiterated the country’s commitment to counterterrorism.
“For His Majesty King Mohammed VI, working according to a multi-party approach in the fight against terrorism is essential,” he said, stressing the importance of a multilateral approach again.
In February, the US State Department’s Country Terrorism Report 2021 stressed the importance of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) and its efforts against terrorism.
The US has repeatedly praised Morocco’s cooperative efforts to fight terrorism and extremism, with a State Department official previously stating that Morocco has demonstrated “a record of leadership” in the field.
