Global Coalition against Daech meets in Marrakech

By Agence de Presse Africaine On May 11, 2022

This first meeting of the Global Coalition against Daech in Africa is held at the joint invitation of the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita and the head of U.S. diplomacy, Antony Blinken, replaced by the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ms. Some forty foreign ministers from Europe, the Arab-Muslim world, Asia, Africa and the…

APA-Marrakech (Morocco) The work of the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daech started, on Wednesday in Marrakech, with a special focus on actions undertaken in terms of stabilization efforts in areas previously impacted by Daech, in the field of strategic communication against the radicalization propaganda of this terrorist group and its affiliates, and the fight against foreign terrorist fighters.

Some forty foreign ministers from Europe, the Arab-Muslim world, Asia, Africa and the Americas are participating in this conference.

Opening the conference, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the pernicious links between terrorism and separatism, seeing “two sides of the same coin.”

“Separatism and terrorism are very often two sides of the same coin,” he stressed, warning against “a disturbing trend that has developed without attracting the necessary attention: the link between terrorism and separatism.”

He argued that “the collusion against the sovereignty and stability of States, in addition to the convergence of financial, tactical and operational means, create an objective alliance between terrorist and separatist groups.”

This has been confirmed by the increasing number of individuals moving from separatist groups to terrorist groups and vice versa, the minister noted, adding that “those who finance, harbor, support and arm separatism actually contribute to the spread of terrorism and further undermine regional peace and security.”

“Let there be no mistake: encouraging separatism is tantamount to complicity with terrorism,” warned Mr. Bourita, during this conclave, which is attended by representatives of over 80 countries and international organizations.

For her part, the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nulan, said that the challenge of this conference is to raise awareness and launch a global mobilization against the scourge of terrorism, which has moved from the Middle East to Africa, and particularly in the Sahel regions.

“We came together with a shared commitment to ensure the lasting defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, across the continent of Africa and around the world. Our work has ranged from liberating the territory invaded by ISIS to identifying areas of the world that are breeding grounds for terrorist groups and addressing the root causes,” she stressed

According to her, the meeting will be dedicated to assessing the work that the Coalition and individual members have done over the past year in Iraq and Syria, the African continent and the Afghanistan region and identifying gaps that need to be addressed.

He announced that his country is seeking to raise $700 million for critical stabilization activities in communities liberated from Islamic State control in Iraq and Syria, $350 million for Iraq and $350 million for Syria.

In the past year alone, the United States has provided more than $45 million in stabilization assistance for northeastern Syria and more than $60 million for Iraq, the U.S. official recalled, calling on other donors to increase their support as well.

“We also recognize that stabilization funding alone is insufficient to help communities rebuild after the scourge of Daech. And for that reason, the United States intends in the coming days to issue a blanket license to facilitate private investment in areas not controlled by the Islamic State regime in Syria to generate more revenue to help these communities rebuild and recover.

As we prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, we must remain vigilant to the continuing threat it poses elsewhere in the world, including here on the African continent, she stressed.