UNSC on Strengthening the Fight against the Financing of Armed Groups and Terrorists

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AT SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA: STRENGTHENING THE FIGHT AGAINST THE FINANCING OF ARMED GROUPS AND TERRORISTS THROUGH THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING NATURAL RESOURCES
 

Mr. President, Your Excellency Mr. Michael Moussa Adamo, Foreign Minister of Gabon
I would like to begin by commending Gabon for convening such a high-level debate aimed at deliberating ways to strengthen the fight against the financing of terrorists via illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources. I, on behalf of Ghana, also thank Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission for their thought-provoking briefings. Indeed, a flip through the Atlas of African history reveals that the battle for control of natural resources which often results in civil conflicts is a wellknown phenomenon. This phenomenon served as a key driver of numerous
civil wars that occurred on the African continent, particularly in the latter decades of the 20th century, prominent among which were the civil wars of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
 
However, at the turn of the new millennium, which also heralded an evolution of the security dynamics on the continent, where terrorism and violent extremism began to gain root in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, an extra dimension of the phenomenon has emerged. Terrorists and violent extremists, who continue to wreak havoc on countries, particularly, in the Sahel region of West Africa, are increasingly seizing areas rich in natural resources such as gold, diamond, among others, with the aim of exploiting such resources to generate funds for the sustenance of their
heinous crimes against humanity. To further highlight the nature of this new and emerging approach, natural resources which could have been utilised for the development of States continue to be exploited through illegal mining by terrorist groups; a development which portends adverse implications for the natural ecosystems of the States including but not limited to the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies, all of which contribute to climate change.
 
The funds generated from such illegal exploitation of natural resources are then used for the acquisition of arms and ammunition to perpetrate terrorist activities, leading to the loss of lives and the destruction of private and public infrastructure. Currently, such mode of terrorist financing with its attendant implication for global peace and security, is in full force in countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali. Certainly, the illegal exploitation of natural resources for terrorist financing creates a vicious cycle that threatens the territorial integrity of affected States, undermines efforts to safeguard human security and impedes actions to meet global climate change goals.
 
The existential threat posed by this model of terrorist financing to numerous African Member States of the United Nations, therefore, underscores the need for urgent concerted action by the Security Council, the wider UN membership and other key stakeholders. Against the backdrop of the prevailing context, we highlight a number of points as part of efforts to prevent terrorist financing through the exploitation of natural resources.
 
First, a full understanding of the complex nature of the utilisation of natural resources to finance terrorism appears to be lacking within the international community. In this regard, there is the need to enhance understanding of all stakeholders including State and non-state actors. We, therefore, welcome this debate and encourage other efforts aimed at creating awareness on
terrorist financing through the exploitation of natural resources.
 
Second, the illicit trafficking of natural resources for terrorist financing in Africa is sustained by the ease of cross-border movement of such resources due to challenges relating to border security management. Technical, technological and human capacity building support aimed at enhancing border security toward curtailing illicit export and movement of natural resources are imperative. We therefore urge the continued support of the Security Council Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and other multilateral and bilateral partners in the broader fight against terrorism including support for the enhancement of border security.
 
Third, the evolving mode of terrorist financing through the exploitation of natural resources is underpinned by weak regulatory policies and enforcement mechanisms governing the extraction of such natural resources. States must therefore be supported to aggressively pursue the building of robust natural resource policies and the implementation of measures that eradicate opportunities for terrorist financing through the exploitation of natural resources. This must however be accompanied by greater transparency regarding the trade of such resources within the international supply chain system while promoting new investments in Africa for the processing of natural resources in a manner that supports legitimate trade and offers better returns to the State.
 
Fourth, support for regional counter-terrorism frameworks that prioritise information sharing among nations and the conduct of joint operations toward curtailing illicit trafficking of natural resources across borders is imperative. In this regard, and without violating the tenets of Chapter Eight (8) of the UN Charter, home-grown counter-terrorism frameworks such as the Accra Initiative, which is a cooperative and collaborative security mechanism among seven (7) West African countries aimed at curbing the spread of terrorism and violent extremism from the Sahel region to Coastal West Africa, must be supported to prevent terrorist financing via illegal trafficking of natural resources.
 
The Accra Initiative, through joint ad-hoc operations, have so far been successful in dismantling terrorist cells and hubs for transnational organised criminal groups along the common borders of Member States. With the support of the International community, the Accra Initiative can serve as a potent sub-regional counter-terrorism initiative that promotes multicountry collaboration to prevent terrorist financing via the exploitation of
natural resources.
 
Mr. President
At the national level, the government of Ghana continues to enforce existing laws established to prevent terrorist financing. The Anti-terrorism Act (Act 762) of Ghana which was enacted in 2008, criminalises terrorist financing, material support for terrorists among others. Additionally, Ghana has completed the development of a comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering Bill, which when passed into law, would criminalise uncontrolled financial transfers and illicit wealth acquisition. Further, the government of Ghana has established a Financial Intelligence
Centre that has been instrumental in ensuring real time monitoring and flagging of suspicious transactions from Banks and other financial institutions in the country. The Financial Intelligence Centre also closely monitors the activities of Non-Profit Organisations that could be leveraged for money laundering and terrorist financing.
 
More importantly, the government of Ghana continues to enforce laws regarding the acquisition of mining concessions by private individuals and entities while clamping down on illegal mining. In this regard, the government of Ghana has enhanced efforts at establishing state presence in the vast areas along the country’s borders to prevent the creation of terrorist cells and hubs for transnational organised crime which often facilitate illegal trafficking of natural resources.
 
To conclude, I must emphasise that Africa deserves the full dividends that accrue from the extraction of its abundant natural resources, to enable the continent deliver on its promise of providing sustainable development for its people. This has become even more imperative in view of the prevailing global economic challenges arising from the shocks of the COVID-19
pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The evolving phenomenon of terrorist financing via illicit exploitation of Africa’s natural resources therefore presents a clear and present danger to
the stability of African States. The phenomenon, however, cannot be viewed solely as an African problem because the funds generated from the exploitation of the natural resources in Africa could be used to finance terrorism in other parts of the world.
 
Concerted efforts by all stakeholders within the international community is required, for that is the surest path to deprive terrorist groups of the funds they so need to unleash terror on the world.
 
I thank you Mr. President.