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Senegal’s president, others seek global synergy against terrorism

By Victoria Ojugbana, Dakar, Senegal with agency reports
11 November 2015   |   4:25 am
THE Senegalese President, Macky Sall, has suggested the mobilisation of the international community as a way of finding a lasting solution to terrorism in the African continent. In a related development, Chad’s government has imposed a state of emergency in the flashpoint Lake Chad region, saying it has become a gathering point for Boko Haram…
Macky Sally

Macky Sally

THE Senegalese President, Macky Sall, has suggested the mobilisation of the international community as a way of finding a lasting solution to terrorism in the African continent.

In a related development, Chad’s government has imposed a state of emergency in the flashpoint Lake Chad region, saying it has become a gathering point for Boko Haram fighters.

The area also straddles Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger and is frequently targeted by Boko Haram

Speaking at day two of Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, which held at the King Fahd’s Palace in Dakar yesterday, Sall said that countries in the continent need to mobilise themselves to be able to seek collaboration from the international community.

He suggested that to achieve an effective result, terrorism should be tackled from the root. While urging African leaders to provide jobs for their people as a means of ending poverty and idleness, which is capable of fuelling the scourge, Sall noted that giving African youths a good perspective would help to check this.

Also, Algeria’s former Advisor at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ahmed Mecheraoui, at the forum, advocated multi-network approach to tackling terrorism in the continent.

Saying that better multi-networking, improved information analysis and community relationship will effectively tackle terrorism, Mecheraoui added that African leaders should also seek the help of international community and must not be complacent or relent in their efforts in this fight.

The Senegalese President, who is the host of this edition of the Forum, stressed the need for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries to open their borders for effective movement of people so as to facilitate legitimate trade activities among them.

Sall noted that maintaining stronger bilateral trade ties among the nations will help in the development of the region and promote economic growth.

Mecheraoui, however, said that complicity on the part of African security officials made it possible for terrorist attack. He suggested that security operatives should maintain a better relationship with their host communities as this will help combat the scourge.

Speaking at the forum, the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa condemned the activities of the terrorists in Nigeria known as Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab in Mali, the Chad, Senegal, Cameroun, Kenya among other African nations, he urged better policing of the borders between countries so as to monitor the movements of these miscreants.

Organised by the Senegalese Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad) and the Pan-African Institute of Strategy, with the support of the French Ministry of Defence and the Association de soutien au Forum de Dakar (ASFORDAR), in conjunction with the African Union and international partners, the forum provided the discussants opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss informally with the highest political authorities.

The announcement on Monday of the curfew came as two female suicide bombers reportedly attacked a mosque in northern Cameroon, killing three people, and a day after a similar assault killed two others in Chad.

Under the decree, the governor of the remote region will have the authority to ban the circulation of people and vehicles, search homes and recover arms.

The government said health, education and economic development in the area must also be a priority as authorities struggle to stem Boko Haram’s recruitment drive.

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