Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to strengthen efforts to block illicit financial flows that continue to fund terrorism and violent extremism across the continent. The appeal was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during the 1354th Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council at the ministerial level.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said access to illegal funds has enabled terrorist groups to recruit young people, acquire sophisticated weapons and expand their operations. She urged the AU and its partners to enhance international cooperation in tracing, recovering and returning illicit funds to their countries of origin, while preventing terrorist groups from accessing financial safe havens.
The minister also warned that extremist groups are increasingly using commercially available technologies such as drones and digital platforms, while generating revenue through kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s condemnation of terrorism and violent extremism and commended the sacrifices of security personnel combating the threat across Africa.
She further called on international partners to adopt a zero-tolerance approach by preventing non-state actors from acquiring arms, ammunition, drones and other advanced weapons. Odumegwu-Ojukwu also urged African countries to remain committed to implementing resolutions adopted at the 2022 Malabo Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism and the 2024 High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting held in Abuja.
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