President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday that the hope of defeating the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Africa is still a long way ahead.
He spoke in Nairobi, Kenya at the opening ceremony of the 455th African Union Peace and Security Council meeting at the Level of Heads of State and Government.
He lamented the worsening insurgent activities of Boko Haram, al-Shabaab and the Lord Resistance Army in parts of Africa while he also commended the past efforts of African leaders to tackle insurgency in the continent.
He said, “While both member states and the Commission deserve to be commended for their commitment and efforts, nonetheless, much remains to be done.
“The atrocities that continue to be committed by the terrorist groups active in the Sahelo-Saharan region, Boko Haram, the LRA, al- Shabaab and other terrorist groups, bear testimony to the long road ahead of us.”
The meeting which was with the theme, ‘terrorism and violent extremism in Africa,’ held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
President Jonathan, who also read the speech of the Chairman of the African Union, Ould Aziz, at the occasion, called on African countries to fulfill their earlier commitments to joint action against terrorism in the areas of legal measures, border control and exchange of intelligence.
Though the president identified the roles of social issues like unemployment and poverty in the worsening security problem in the continent, while proffering solution to the menace, he called for enhanced concerted efforts of African leaders in order to defeat the terrorist groups.
He also reiterated the need for the African leaders to deploy the legal and political instruments already at their disposal to tackle insurgency in the continent.
He said, “The first solution relates to the need for enhanced cooperation among member states and between the continent and the rest of the international community.
“Indeed the problem we are confronting is global in nature. Terrorist and organised crime syndicate operate in networks that can only be defeated through concerted action and cooperation. The African Union and its various instruments and mechanisms provide the framework within which we should combine our efforts and pull together our scarce resources.
“The second point pertains to the need for action-oriented approach. We are now well equipped in terms of legal, political and normative instruments. The tasks ahead of us is to ensure their effective implementation.
“The countries concerned should take the steps required to become parties to the relevant African and international instruments. We should as member states fulfill our commitments and obligations, particularly with respect to legal measures, border control, exchange of intelligence and other related measures.”
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Council, Idriss Debby of Chad assured that the Council would do everything possible to end terror in the continent.
On his part, the host President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, called on African leaders to provide the funds needed to fight terrorism to complement external supports from outside Africa. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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He must be out of his senses for always claiming (anytime he changes service chiefs) that this menace will be a thing of the past in just three months. It like claiming electricity situation will improve by October when we all know that its nothing but lies... All politicians are liars and all liars are politicians
ReplyDeletefirst coment pls can you volunteer urself to fight this people if you can pls signify is not the matter of abusing or making mouth.......abusing the president is like you are abusing ur father in the house
ReplyDeletebefore GEJ bad bad things happen in this country and all the time in the north why? And you shifting all the blame to the president as if u are there u wl perform miracle except if all this northerners repent or wl disintergrate this country can have peace
ReplyDeleteOga ebola jonathan, the earlier you tell nigerians the truth about your boko haram the better for you and your associates,bcos no matter how long it take as long as you are alive we nigerians will surely drag you and your associates to the war court. What a wicked man!
ReplyDeleteshut up your stinking mouth turani, pig of a boy like you, who is Nigerian with you? you northerners are blood sucking demon allah devil worshippers, look around the whole world and your fellow Islamic worshippers killing humans like chickens, is that also caused by GEJ? which stupid truth are u referring to? the truth that Islamic religion is a curse to the whole world? or islam is the modern day plague? any one who shares country with islams are generally in big trouble, because they are nothing but trouble makers!
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