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Annual Report on Terrorism in Africa for 2021

Maat: More than 10,200 fell victims to terrorism and violence in Africa during 2021
Okil: Ethiopia is the bloodiest country in 2021, and a national policy is needed to prevent terrorism on the basis of ethnicity
Pasha: The African Union entities working to monitor the activity of private security partnerships must be activated
Essam El-Din: The ongoing expansion of ISIS in Africa raises questions about the ability of African mechanisms to establish peace and security

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights stated that Africa witnessed more than 600 terrorist attacks and extreme cases of violence that claimed the lives of nearly 10,200 victims, and led to the kidnapping, displacement, and injury of tens of hundreds, marking a significant increase from 2020, in which Africa witnessed more than 525 bloody accidents, resulting in at least 7,030 deaths. All this comes two years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the African countries’ preoccupation with pursuing its dangerous repercussions.

All this was covered and elaborated on in a report issued by Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights entitled "Terrorist Operations in Africa 2021." It is the second annual report in which Maat has been monitoring the most prominent terrorist operations and counter-terrorism efforts in Africa to track the path of terrorist groups, and to come up with recommendations and estimates of the current and future security situation in Africa.

Maat mentioned that the most prominent features marking the activity of terrorist organizations in Africa during 2021 are the pledge of allegiance of many armed movements and rebel groups to ISIS; their targeting of the strongholds of the security forces and the army in the areas under their control; and the increase of the activity of terrorist groups in light of the escalation of jihadist competition between al-Qaeda and ISIS after the losses incurred by the two organizations in the Middle East.

For his part, Ayman Okeil, the international human rights expert and president of Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights pointed out that the most prominent feature characterized terrorist operations during 2021 is the expansion of the phenomenon of cross-border terrorism, like al-Qaeda and ISIS expansion in the African continent is clearly evident.

On the other hand, "Okeil" stated that the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia topped the list of the deadliest African countries during the past year, with about 3,821 victims. Unfortunately, the intensity of the political conflict is still raging. "Okeil" recommend not to violate the rights of different ethnicities, which in turn affect security and peace, he stressed the need to quickly conclude UN and African investigations and take urgent measures to bring justice, as well as work on formulating a national policy to prevent terrorism on the basis of race.

In the context of the report, Abdul-Rahman Pasha, director of the African Affairs and Sustainable Development Unit at Maat, commented on the phenomenon of using private security companies and its relationship to the growth of terrorism and all related criminal and hostile acts. In his statement, "Pasha" stressed the increasing role played by these companies in the escalation of terrorist operations, as they play their role as a proxy for the policies of some countries, which are reticent to show their public sponsorship of these companies due to their international status.

"Essam El-Din" also reiterated its previous recommendations on the importance of strengthening cooperation between African countries and the African Union, regarding the formation of a special unit to combat terrorism to operate under the umbrella of the African Standby Force (ASF), as well as the necessity of activating a working group that includes all concerned parties to combat terrorism, including the Military Staff Committee (MSC) of the United Nations Security Council, the regional bodies and the UN cooperation agencies.

On her part, Basant Essam El Din pointed out; Deputy Director of the African Affairs and Sustainable Development Unit at the Maat Foundation, to the apparent ISIS expansion in Central and Southern Africa. She said that the continued pledge of allegiance by many armed movements and rebel groups to ISIS, raises many questions about the ability of African mechanisms, reinforced with efforts, to provide a safe and secure life for millions of defenseless civilians.

While “Issam” reiterated its previous recommendations regarding the importance of strengthening cooperation between African countries and the African Union, regarding the formation of a special unit to combat terrorism to operate under the umbrella of the African Rapid Intervention Force, as well as the necessity of activating a working group that includes all relevant parties to combat terrorism, including the Military Staff Committee of the Council Peace and security, regional bodies and UN cooperation agencies.

Notably, Africa is among the issues of concern to Maat for Peace, Development and Human rights, being a member of the General Assembly for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the Africa Union (AU). Moreover, Maat serves as an Observer in The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and as a Northern African Coordinator in the major Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Africa of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

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