“Terrorists and violent extremists including Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates have exploited instability and conflict to increase their activities and intensify attacks across the continent,” the UN deputy chief told the Security Council high-level debate on “Counter-Terrorism in Africa – an Imperative for Peace, Security and Development” on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Their senseless, terror-fueled violence has killed and wounded thousands and many more continue to suffer from the broader impact of terrorism on their lives and livelihoods,” she said.
“Terrorist and violent extremist groups aggravate instability and human suffering. And they can plunge a country emerging from war back into the depths of conflict,” Mohammed said.
Meanwhile, terrorists, non-state armed groups and criminal networks often pursue different agendas and strategies, fueled by smuggling, human trafficking, and other methods of illicit financing – sometimes impersonating legitimate armed forces, said the UN deputy chief.
And as digital tools spread hate and disinformation, terrorists and other criminal groups are exploiting inter-communal tensions and food insecurity triggered by climate change, she added.
In today’s hyper-connected world, Mohammed said, the spread of terrorism in Africa is “not a concern for African member states alone.”
“The challenge belongs to us all. Countering international terrorism requires effective multilateral responses,” she added.
Outlining five suggestions to advance counter-terrorism efforts in Africa, Mohammed reminded that “prevention remains our best response.”
“We must address the instability and conflict that can lead to terrorism in the first place, as well as the conditions exploited by terrorists in pursuit of their agendas.”
The UN deputy chief called for community-based, and gender-sensitive “whole-of-society” approaches.
Other suggestions include calling for “sustained and predictable funding” to prevent and counter terrorism.
Sisi made the remarks in an inaugurating speech to the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit (SCIS), which gathers heads of state and government worldwide here at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh.
Addressing the summit, Sisi called on world leaders to take real and concrete steps towards reducing emissions, enhancing adaptation to the consequences of climate change, and providing the necessary financing for developing countries that suffer the most from the current climate crisis.
“Time is running out for the world and there is no way to retreat from implementing climate commitments,” Sisi said.
“It is necessary for developing countries, especially in our African continent, to feel that their priorities are responded to and taken into consideration,” he said
“These countries bear their responsibility, to the extent of their capabilities and the amount of appropriate support and finance, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, granting them some satisfaction with their position on global efforts to combat climate change,” Sisi added.
He stressed that this can only happen by creating an atmosphere of confidence as well as taking additional serious steps and of developed countries to fulfill their climate finance commitments.
He pointed out that the world is still facing many challenges that cast a shadow on its ability to reach the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which is to keep the global average temperature rise this century as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Addressing the climate summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned global leaders of the current climate challenges.
“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator,” he said, adding “the planet is fast approaching the tipping point that will make climate chaos irreversible.”
“Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, global temperatures keep rising, and our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible,” he adds.
He noted that humanity must “cooperate or perish” in the face of international crises that have battered economies and shaken international relations.
“It is either a climate solidarity pact, or a collective suicide pact,” Guterres warned.
The mother of two was nervous and in pain as she explained that her untreated 10-year-old joint pain was wearing her down. She said she had been treated by doctors over the years, but the prescribed drugs were not effective.
“It (drug) relieved me a bit…but five minutes later the pain comes back,” the 53-year-old widow told Xinhua as she and hundreds of Cameroonian residents of Bangou and Bamendjou sub-divisions of the Upper Plateau division of the region waited for a team of Chinese specialized medics who had arrived at the region on Friday for a two-day free consultation and treatment campaign.
Bangou and Bamendjou, with a population of over 100,000, are surrounded by many rural communities with abundant wildlife and dispersed settlements, and have only two hospitals. Villagers are often troubled by such health problems as gastritis, typhoid, malaria, cataract, rheumatism. But most of them cannot afford medical services.
“My brother informed me of the health campaign. I left Douala (Cameroon’s commercial hub, more than 200 km away from Bangou) at midnight and arrived here at 6:30 in the morning,” said the retired history teacher and father of five who said he has been suffering from nerves and cramps since 2016.
Martine Kouamo stood looking dejected as she watched her 10-year-old son Christian Djomo who was suffering from testicular pain. His twin sister was suffering from neck strain, and one part of her body was not stable, she said.
“I tried to use traditional medicine (on Djomo) for three years in vain. I think Chinese doctors will help because they work well,” Kouamo said.
As the sun rose over Bangou and Bamendjou, a good number of patients began taking turns to register, consult and then receive treatment from doctors in various departments, who were here as members of the 22nd Chinese medical team to Cameroon.
Fangan was among the first patients to be consulted.
She was carefully administered an acupuncture treatment, an ancient Chinese method of treatment in which fine needles are inserted through the skin at specific points to treat various physical conditions.
“As I speak to you the pain is gone,” Fangan said after the treatment. “I feel better. In the morning I couldn’t swing my neck like this…but now I can swing behind, left and right without problem.”
After being examined, little Djomo was given medicine that he hoped would heal him. “I feel about better,” he said.
For the first time since 2016, Justin Kouamou, 71, felt relieved when his sickness was detected through an echography. Before this, he had visited doctors several times, but results were not satisfactory.
“The Chinese doctors inserted needles in my skin and it magically alleviated my pain. I am still amazed by the wonders of that treatment,” Kouamou told Xinhua two days after he was administered an acupuncture treatment.
Over 1,600 patients were consulted and treated during the campaign that ran from Oct. 29-30, said Paul Sikapin, mayor of Bangou council.
“I asked firmly that such a campaign should be organized next year,” Sikapin said.
Fabrice Dubila, a medical doctor in Bangou sub-divisional hospital, said Cameroonian and Chinese doctors worked shoulder to shoulder in treating patients and offering much-needed medical services during the campaign.
“This is a great opportunity to learn from our colleagues overseas. So far we have collaborated on the diagnosis of some patients and I have also learned some other diagnostic techniques I can use to diagnose some particular diseases notably lipoma and other pathologies. I think it is a very good opportunity to have witnessed acupuncture here in Bangou,” Dubila said.
Theodore Datouo, deputy speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly who is also a member of parliament of Upper Plateau constituency, said, the campaign was a mark of friendly relations between Cameroon and China.
“China has always assisted Cameroon in the health sector and this time it is the turn of West region to benefit,” said Datouo, the main organizer of the campaign.
“This campaign is for the wellbeing of the population, the health of the population and when the population is healthy, economic development will follow. We thank China for this cooperation and the Chinese medical team in Cameroon,” he added.
Guo Jun, head of the Chinese medical team in Cameroon said, China has already dispatched 22 medical teams and 736 medical professionals to Cameroon since 1975 to diagnose diseases, relieve patients’ pains, improve local health conditions and local medical level.
“Today’s free clinic is just an example. In the future, we will further deepen cooperation, contribute to promoting medical assistance projects and stimulating China-Cameroon friendship,” Guo said.
Besides the free clinic, the Chinese medical team, along with Beijing Urban Construction Group, donated drugs and protective materials to local hospitals.
Gambo Isah, the spokesman for the police in Katsina, told Xinhua on the telephone that the armed attackers invaded the local farm on Sunday in Kampani Mailafia village in the state’s Faskari local government area, taking away the victims to an unknown location.
“They (the gunmen) took away a total of 21 farm workers between the ages of 15 and 19. Most of them were ladies, and only four among them were men,” Isah said, noting the gunmen had already contacted some of the victims’ families for ransom.
The police spokesman said the farm manager had previously made a deal with the gunmen, who demanded “protection money” from farm owners to allow harvesting without disturbance.
Isah said the police, upon receiving a distress call from the village, had swung into action to rescue the victims and apprehend the fleeing gunmen.
Kidnapping for ransom is not uncommon in Nigeria, especially in the northern region where it has become an enterprise. Victims typically are released unharmed after ransom is paid.
Jubaland deputy police chief Mohamed Nasi Guled said the attackers stormed the Tawakal Hotel located in Kismayo town with a vehicle laden with explosives, sparking an exchange of fire between the militants and security forces.
Guled, who did not confirm the number of casualties, appealed for calm, saying security forces would soon restore order at the hotel frequented by the government and politicians.
“We will shortly deal with the terrorists who are three in number,” he told journalists, noting that students are among the casualties.
Al-Shabab terror group which is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government claimed responsibility for the attack on the heavily guarded hotel.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Ahlam Al-Baji Al-Sayeb, chief-of-staff of the Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, in the presence of experts in the fields of energy and renewable energies.
During her speech, Al-Baji Al-Sayeb stressed that the SITE aims to introduce Tunisia’s energy infrastructure potential to the world.
“It is an opportunity to attract investment in the field of renewable energies in light of the development of the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the global trend toward a green economy and clean energies,” she noted.
At least 30 exhibitors from Tunisia, Germany and China are taking part in the fair which is expected to receive over 5,000 visitors.
The Ethiopian Government Communication Service, in a statement issued Tuesday, disclosed that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have taken control of the towns of Shire, Alamata, and Korem, pushing back the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
“The government of Ethiopia is carrying out the necessary preparations and will coordinate with the relevant humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian aid through these areas that have come under the control of the ENDF, including via the Shire Airport,” the statement read.
Noting that the maximum care ENDF has taken thus far has succeeded in protecting civilians from harm, the statement indicated that government forces have “averted the grim scenario some have predicted by echoing TPLF’s propaganda.”
The Ethiopian government said in coordination with humanitarian operators, it is making preparations to expand the routes through which humanitarian assistance could be transported. It said concerted efforts are underway to open the North Gondar route to Shire as well as the Kombolcha-Dessie-Woldiya-Kobo-Alamata route. The ongoing preparations will also include technical assessments and some of the groundwork needed to restore services to the conflict-affected areas.
The latest announcement came a day after the Ethiopian government vowed to take control of major public facilities in the conflict-hit Tigray region. It said the measures are necessitated not only by the repeated attacks of the TPLF but also by its active collusion with hostile foreign powers.
“It is thus imperative that the government of Ethiopia assumes immediate control of all airports, other federal facilities, and installations in the region,” the Ethiopian Government Communication Service said in a statement Monday.
Meanwhile, it reiterated that government forces will endeavor to avoid combat operations within urban areas to prevent civilian casualties, and strict instructions have been given to all combat units to reinforce this commitment.
Humanitarian aid had been heading to the Tigray region after the Ethiopian government and the rebel forces in late March agreed to a conditional cessation of hostilities and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid into the region.
Conflict resumed in August as the Ethiopian government accused the TPLF of resuming fighting. The situation eventually halted humanitarian aid flowing into parts of Northern Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, has seen a devastating conflict between government-allied troops and forces loyal to the TPLF since November 2020, which has left millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has followed up on the consequences of the OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production, the campaign against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the attempts to hold it responsible for the repercussions of the decision,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Sudan, as a member of the group, stresses that the decision to cut the oil production came with consensus among all member states,” the ministry said.
The statement stressed Sudan’s support for the Saudi stance that the OPEC+ decision was based purely on economic considerations, aiming to maintain the balance of supply and demand in the oil markets, as well as to limit volatility that does not serve the interests of consumers and producers.
On Oct. 5, OPEC+ announced a major production cut of 2 million barrels per day (bpd) starting November to bolster oil prices that have recently tumbled over recession fears.
The reduction equals around 2 percent of this year’s global oil production, which is estimated by OPEC at around 100 million bpd.
The OPEC+ decision reportedly sparked U.S. criticism of Saudi Arabia and accusations of siding with Russia, which Riyadh rejected.
Idris Musa, head of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), said in a statement that the agency on Monday received a report of the fire incidents at the Akaso Wells 14 and 4T Wellheads, two major oil wells operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Limited in the southern state.
Musa said the raging fire had not been put out by the spill control agency, although a situation room was created for effective communication between the affected oil firm and all relevant stakeholders to give a two-hourly update on the incident.
A well-concerted effort is in place to extinguish the blazes, the NOSDRA official said.
According to him, an illegal boat that was suspected to be engaged in oil theft was observed at the location. The boat has been completely burned and the fire on it was extinguished, he added.
Sadiq Dudishe, the spokesperson of the Somali Police Force, said Farhan Mohamoud Adan, Banadir regional police commissioner, was leading the operation which was taking place in Basra at the border between Banadir and Middle Shabelle regions.
“Terrorism is a threat to life. We will never be diverted from our objective of ensuring the security of the country and the elimination of terrorism,” Dudishe said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
The police said the operation in Basra began at around 11:30 a.m., local time, and the Somali National Army (SNA) forces faced no resistance from the terror group which is fighting to topple the internationally recognized government.
Witnesses said Adan’s convoy ran over an explosive device that had been planted by the extremists along the road to Basra.
Al-Shabaab terror group claimed responsibility for the latest attack despite facing increased offensive from government forces in the recent past.
