Nigeria Urges African Union To Move Against Illicit Funds, Terrorism

The Federal Government of Nigeria has charged African Nations to move against illicit funds linking the increasing wave of terrorism and violent extremism in the region to such funds. 

It also stated its readiness for partnerships in countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated these at the 1354th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at the ministerial level, which held virtually on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

"Mr. Chair, a major obstacle to any progress being made in the fight against terrorism in Africa is access to illicit funds. It facilitates the recruitment of youths and the procurement of lethal weapons by terrorist groups. We call on the PSC to stress the need for stronger international cooperation in preventing, tracing, recovering, and returning proceeds of illicit financial flows from safe havens to countries of origins," she said.

The minister said that terrorist groups on the Continent were beginning to show greater resilience against conventional military counter-terrorism operations in Africa.

She stated that Nigeria strongly condemned all acts of the twin evils of terrorism and violent extremism and extended the country’s solidarity with all victims of the menace. 

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also extended the nation's appreciation of the sacrifices of the armed forces who continued to confront terrorists operating on the continent on daily basis.

"They are increasingly acquiring and deploying commercially available technologies, such as drones and other sophisticated digital platforms. They are also having what seems to be unhindered access to illicit financing through kidnapping for ransom and mining of precious minerals in territories where they operate," she stated.

The minister noted that the spread of terrorism and violent extremism within the West African Region had been adduced as justification for the intervention of military adventurists to unconstitutionally change democratically elected Governments in their countries.

The minister further stated that the greatest challenge before the AU was determining the best way to curtail the operational freedom of jihadist groups on the continent. 

She therefore, called for urgent translation to action, their commitments at the 2022 Malabo Extraordinary Summit on Counter Terrorism, as well as those made by Member States during the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting, held in Abuja, in 2024.

The minister urged that Africa should not be seen as the global epicentre of terrorism stressing that this could lead to the unnecessary profiling of innocent Africans and targeting them for ill-treatment at international airports and other destination points.

She explained that Nigeria had adopted a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism that combines kinetic and non-kinetic measures. 

The minister said: "Our sustained operations have ensured significant degrade in the operational capacity of Boko Haram and ISWAP as well as the restoration of government authority in many of the affected communities. We are combating financiers of terrorist activities in the country. We are also deradicalizing, rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant ex-combatants. To address the root causes, we have scaled up investment in education, critical infrastructure, economic empowerment of youths, and we are prioritizing community resilience. We are engaging traditional and religious leaders, women and youth in our strategies for countering extremist narratives and preventing radicalization.

"We appreciate the importance of coordination of efforts in addressing the scourge. That is why we are working closely with our neighbouring countries and championing the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategy as well as the Region’s Early Warning and Response Network. We are strengthening intelligence-sharing, border security and coordinated responses to terrorist’s threats. Our support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has made it the continental best practice on regional mechanisms for combating terrorists’ operations that it is today.

"In particular, we endorse the emphasis on strengthening intelligence-sharing and operational cooperation among Member States; disrupting terrorist financing networks; enhancing the Continental Early Warning System to improve early detection and response; strengthening cybersecurity; and developing continental guidelines for responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in the prevention of and fight against terrorism and violent extremism."

Odumegwu-Ojukwu equally called on international partners to affirm zero tolerance for terrorism regardless of the motives.

She urged them to do so, by taking appropriate measures to prevent non-state actors from acquiring arms and ammunition, including drones, dual–use goods and other sophisticated weapons manufactured by companies in their territories. 

According to her, partners should show utmost sincerity in preventing illicit trade in and proliferation of such enablers of terrorist attacks on Africa.

The Meeting was presided by Haruna Kasolo, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the AU for July 2026.