Morocco Presents Its National Counter-Terrorism Strategy at the UN Security Council
On January 21, 2025, during a public debate held under Algeria’s presidency of the UN Security Council, Morocco’s Ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, detailed the framework of the Kingdom’s strategy to combat terrorism, particularly in Africa, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
This national strategy relies on a multidimensional and proactive approach, encompassing four fundamental pillars: strengthening security and legal frameworks, economic and human development, preserving cultural identity, and promoting regional and international cooperation. The ambassador emphasized the importance of a moderate Islam based on universal values of peace and coexistence, a principle that Morocco shares with many African countries.
In particular, Mr. Hilale highlighted the role of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulemas and the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates. These institutions, established to train religious leaders, have educated over 3,000 beneficiaries from various African nations since the institute’s inception in 2015, including 100 imams from Mali in January 2025.
The ambassador also warned of the troubling link between separatism, terrorism, and cross-border crime—phenomena that pose a serious threat to the stability and security of Africa. He denounced the growing collusion between certain separatist groups and terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, stressing that this exacerbates instability in the region.
Mr. Hilale called for a proactive mobilization of the international community to counter these destabilizing groups while reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to cooperating with the UN and its African partners. He mentioned the UN Counter-Terrorism Office program in Rabat, established in 2021 to provide training to African countries, which has already trained over 2,000 agents from 38 African nations.
The Moroccan diplomat also cited the Marrakech Platform, a high-level event on combating terrorism, which held its third edition in Fez in June 2024, to highlight the importance of partnership in the fight against this scourge.
Finally, Mr. Hilale insisted that the fight against terrorism extends beyond security measures, forming part of a broader dynamic where the protection of human rights, the preservation of values of peace and human dignity, as well as international cooperation, are crucial levers for eradicating the root causes of terrorism and preventing its long-term impacts.
