Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 9848th Meeting, 24 Jan. 2024, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Maintenance of International Peace and Security"]

S/PRST/2025/2View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 31 Maintenance of international peace and security, published in 2025.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Africa Counter-Terrorism Regional Security Terrorism Terrorism Financing

What’s in this document?

26 paragraphs

At the 9848th meeting of the Security Council, held on 24 January 2025, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council reaffirms that acts of international terrorism constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security in the twenty-first century.

“The Security Council reaffirms its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed.

“The Security Council stresses that acts of international terrorism are contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and that the financing, planning and preparation of as well as any other form of support for acts of international terrorism are similarly contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

“The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and all terrorist acts, including those on the basis of xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, and further reaffirms that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or group.

“The Security Council strongly condemns attacks by terrorist groups or individuals on civilians, critical infrastructure and soft targets, including transnational and cross-border attacks, and demands the immediate cessation of such attacks, and calls on all Member States to summon the requisite political will to denounce all acts of terrorism.

“The Security Council recognizes that terrorism will not be defeated by military force or security forces, law enforcement measures, and intelligence operations alone, and underlines the need to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including, but not limited to, strengthening efforts for the successful prevention and peaceful resolution of prolonged conflicts, and also promoting the rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, tolerance and inclusiveness.

“The Security Council underlines the importance of supporting socioeconomic development for sustaining peace in Africa through economic development including through transnational and trans-regional infrastructure development, industrialization, poverty eradication, job creation, agricultural modernization and promotion of entrepreneurship, and expresses the need for continued support to African countries taking into account their national priorities and needs. In this regard, the Security Council also underscores the importance of the rule of law in the support of socioeconomic development.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of civil society, including community-based civil society, grassroots organizations, the private sector, academia, think tanks, media, youth, women and cultural, educational, and religious leaders in increasing awareness about the threats of terrorism and more effectively tackling them.

“The Security Council expresses deep concern over the alarming increase in terrorist attacks, the rising number of fatalities, particularly among civilians, and the expanding geographic spread of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel and West African coastal states. The Council underscores the need of Member States to strengthen, where appropriate, their criminal justice, law enforcement and border-control capacities, and to develop their capacity to investigate, prosecute, disrupt, and dismantle trafficking networks to address the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, whether domestic or transnational.

“The Security Council acknowledges that the terrorist threat challenges the AU’s efforts to silence the guns in Africa by 2030 and significantly hinders progress toward implementing the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

“The Security Council notes with grave concern that terrorists and terrorist groups, including in Africa, raise, move and transfer funds through a variety of means, which include cash couriers, abuse of legitimate commercial enterprise, exploitation of natural resources, and proceeds of criminal activities including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, the illicit trade and trafficking in cultural property, persons, drugs, and small arms and light weapons, and recalls its obligations on all Member States relevant to the prevention and suppression of the financing of terrorism, including those in resolutions 1373 (2001) and 2462 (2019).

“The Security Council reiterates the obligation of Member States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in or associated with terrorist acts, including by suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups, consistent with international law, and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists.

“The Security Council urged member states to take into account the potential effects of counterterrorism measures on exclusively humanitarian activities, including medical activities, that are carried out by impartial humanitarian actors in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law.

“The Security Council recalls that all States shall afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with criminal investigations or criminal proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts, including assistance in obtaining evidence in their possession necessary for the proceedings, and urges States to act in accordance with their obligations under international law, in order to find and bring to justice, extradite or prosecute any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempts to participate in the direct or indirect financing of activities conducted by terrorists or terrorist groups.

“The Security Council underscores the urgent need for Member States to implement fully and immediately resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017), including their provisions on developing comprehensive and tailored prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies, and stressing the importance of assisting women and children associated with foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), who may be victims of terrorism. The Council also expresses deep concern about reports of FTFs traveling to join ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates in Africa.

“The Security Council reaffirms that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with the Charter of the United Nations and all other obligations under international law, in particular international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international refugee law.

“The Security Council acknowledges the efforts deployed towards strengthening the African Union’s institutional counter-terrorism architecture, including through the 1999 OAU Convention and 2002 Plan of Action, and further acknowledges the appointment of the AU Champion for preventing and countering terrorism in Africa.

“The Security Council acknowledges the enhancement of intelligence sharing through the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA), the establishment of operational mechanisms such as the African Standby Force’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, and the strengthening of cooperation among AU Member States’ police services through AFRIPOL.

“The Security Council encourages Member States and relevant international organizations to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the African Union and its subregional organizations, in conflict prevention and crisis management, and in post-conflict stabilization, including through the provision of human, technical and financial assistance.

“The Security Council encourages closer coordination and cooperation between the United Nations Secretariat and international, regional and subregional organizations, including through training, the sharing and exchange of knowledge, thematic expertise and operational support as appropriate.

“The Security Council underscores the importance of strong coordination and cooperation between CTED and the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism (UNOCT), as they work within their mandates and in their distinct roles to ensure effective United Nations engagement to Member States to improve the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced manner as well as other counter-terrorism resolutions, and highlights the important role of the Global Counter Terrorism Coordination Compact entities, particularly UNOCT, and other providers of capacity building assistance in technical assistance delivery through international cooperation.

“The Security Council commends the progress made in the UN-AU partnership and stresses that it should further develop into a systematic, operational, and strategic partnership.

“The Security Council recognizes the terrorist threat in Africa and underlines the importance of prompt and effective the implementation of its resolutions related to the fight against terrorism, as well as all sanctions measures against designated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates.

“The Security Council recognizes the significant need to build and strengthen capacities of Member States, upon their request and with a view to supporting national ownership to more effectively counter terrorism and terrorist financing and to make better use of existing international instruments and mechanisms.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to provide annual updates to the Council on joint AU-UN efforts to combat terrorism in Africa as necessary, through his report as requested in S/PRST/2014/27.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents