Terrorists expanding across Africa, adopting new technologies, UN raises alarm

A United Nations (UN) counter-terrorism chief, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov has warned that terrorists are expanding across Africa and are fast adopting new technologies.

Mr. Voronkov made the disclosure at the organisation’s Security Council held on Thursday at UN headquarters in New York.

He briefed the Council on the eve of the fourth commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, observed annually on Aug. 21.

The counter-terrorism expert noted that two decades after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, terror organisations like Al-Qaida and Islamic State continue to pose grave threat to global peace and security.

Voronkov presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the threats posed by terrorist groups.

He said that Al-Qaida and Islamic State, also known as Da’esh, had continued to exploit the pandemic to use technology to regroup.

He said Da’esh continued to exploit the disruption, grievances and development setbacks caused by the pandemic to regroup, recruit new followers and intensify its activities both online and on the ground.

“Today, we face transnational terrorist threats like Da’esh and Al-Qaida that are enduring and able to adapt to new technologies.

“But also expanding to include individuals and groups that commit terrorist attacks connected to xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance,” Voronkov said.

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