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Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita is representing King Mohammed VI at the AU’s two extraordinary summits tackling humanitarian and terrorism-related challenges on the continent
The first extraordinary summit on humanitarian issues kicked off this morning in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, while the second summit will take place on Saturday.
The summits come in a context marked by several evolving challenges on the continent, including the worst food crisis since 1945 and security issues.
Morocco has been renewing its commitment to share expertise to tackle both security and food insecurity crises.
Moroccan top officials have long warned that the security situation on the continent needs a shared responsibility to defeat extremist groups in the region.
On May 11, the Moroccan FM said that ISIS holds the infamous distinction of becoming the globe’s deadliest terror group in 2021. He warned that the terror group has been increasingly expanding in Africa.
“Compared to the pre-pandemic period, violence has increased on the continent, with a 40 to 60% rise in terms of fatalities and attacks,” he said. His statement also expressed concerns regarding the situation in the Sahel region, often described as a breeding ground for terror groups.
“The Sahel is home to the world’s fastest-growing and most-deadly terrorist groups,” Bourita said, stressing that terror-related deaths increased in the region by over 1,000 % between 2007 and 2021 Bourita made his remarks during the Global Coalition against ISIS meeting held in Marrakech on May 11.
Read Also: Moroccan UN Ambassador: “Food Aid Cannot Feed Africa”
Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48% of global terrorism deaths, with 3,461 casualties, while the Sahel region alone is considered the “home to the world’s fastest-growing and most-deadly terrorist groups.”
The number brought the death toll to 30,000 people over the past 15 years.
Regarding food insecurity, Morocco’s government has long emphasized its readiness to share expertise in the fertilizer field. This expertise is more needed than ever as one of the most horrific food crises in history is predicted to occur in the near future. “Millions could die in the coming months,” warns World Relief, an Africa-oriented NGO.
Morocco’s Permanent Representative to UN Omar Hilale on May 26 emphasized the important resources Africa has to be self-sufficient when it comes to food security
“Africa needs seeds in the ground and mechanical harvesters to harvest food locally,” Hilale said, stressing that “food aid cannot feed Africa.”
