‘Key battleground’: Africa is world’s terrorism hotspot, experts say
- Africa takes the spotlight as the United Nations hosts a high-level conference of heads of counterterrorism agencies
- Local political, economic and social ‘fractures’, as well as porous borders seen to fuel emergence of al-Qaeda and Isis
Counterterrorism experts said that Africa is now the world’s terrorism hotspot, with half of the victims killed last year in sub-Saharan Africa, though al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates remain widespread, persistent and active elsewhere around the globe.
Interpol, the international criminal police agency, also reported during a panel discussion at the UN that terrorism linked to extreme right-wing ideology increased an estimated 50-fold over the past decade, particularly in Europe, North America and parts of the Asia-Pacific.
The experts see other trends: deteriorating global security is making the terrorism threat “more complex and decentralised”.
Extremists are increasingly using sophisticated technology, and drones and artificial intelligence have opened new ways to plan and carry out attacks.
The United Nations this week is hosting its third high-level conference of heads of counterterrorism agencies. Tuesday’s panel on assessing current and emerging terrorist trends and threats brought together experts from the UN, Interpol, Russia, the United States and Qatar, and Google’s senior manager for strategic intelligence.
The overall theme for the week is addressing terrorism through reinvigorated international cooperation.
