Foreign cash fuelling illegal mining, terrorism in Africa, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said foreigners pump a lot of money to fund illegal mining and terrorism across Africa.

The President sought the commitment of the international community to help the continent win the ongoing war against the menaces.

He stressed the need for African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and institution-building to address the evolving threat of terrorism on the continent.

According to him, terrorism poses a significant threat to peace, security, and development in the continent.

President Tinubu spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a two-day African High-Level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, with the theme: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address Evolving Threats of Terrorism, organised by Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and UN Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

He said: “While we seek to address the root causes of terrorism, we must also attack the roots that feed this evil branch. Evolving from the tactics of yesterday, terrorism is becoming a greater threat as it perfects ways to continuously finance, re-equip and re-supply itself for its sinister mission.

“Not only does it kidnap people, it kidnaps precious resources. Billions upon billions of dollars that legitimate governments should be using to sculpt better societies by providing education, health care, and food for its people now go to pay for weapons and mayhem.

“Look at the illegal mining that plagues so many of our nations today. Those who think illegal mining has no connection with financing terrorism are sorely mistaken. The international community has both the moral and legal obligation to help in this cause because it is outside money, not African money, that fuels the illegal operations.

“We shall be knocking on this door of the international community to answer this call for justice, peace, and fair play.”

President Tinubu noted that terrorism poses a threat to everyone in the society, saying: “Terrorism snipes at the very fabric of the tranquil, prosperous, and just societies we seek to build for ourselves and our children. It seeks to frighten the farmer from his field, children from their schools, women from the marketplace, and families from their very homes.”

To combat the menace, the President said: “We must address the root causes of extremism, such as poverty, marginalisation, and social injustice. However, this important fact should not become empty rhetoric, devoid of meaning or action.”