At the recent 69th United Nations General Assembly, the whole world appears to have finally decided to unite against terrorism, and Nigeria, which is being challenged by the Boko Haram sect, joined in raising the bar, writes Head, News Desk, VICTOR EBIMOMI.
On Wednesday, September 24, the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly kicked off at the UN secretariat in New York City, U.S. Leaders from 193 nations, who gathered at this august event, unanimously raised their voices against terrorism, which appears not to be in short supply in the contemporary world.
From the president of the most populous black nation on earth, Goodluck Jonathan, and that of the world’s most powerful country (U.S.), Barack Obama, to the world’s number one civil servant, Ban Ki-moon, came speeches that urgently called for a decisive action to support efforts aimed at confronting terrorism.
In Nigeria, the Boko Haram sect has become a sort of incubus to the nation since 2009, killing thousands of people. Resources that could have been used by the state for developmental objectives have been channelled to combat the terrorist group but the game is still far over. For instance, the federal government, during the week, got the nod of the Senate to borrow $1 billion for the acquisition of military hardware to battle the insurgents.
East and North Africa also have their own share of the bloodletting occasioned by the terror groups. Middle East is currently overshadowed by the activities of numerous terrorist organisations ranging from the popular Al-Qaeda to ISIS and, of course, other smaller ones, while in Asia, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Taliban and others hold sway. Even the powerful U.S. was hit in 2001 by Al-Qaeda, leading to the death of hundreds of people.
Analysts even argue that the greatest danger in the world today is terrorism. So the spotlight on these groups at the UN General Assembly could not have been timelier than now and the forceful objection by member states is an eloquent testimony that perhaps the end may be in the horizon.
Leading the park is UN Secretary-General, Ki-moon, who, in his opening remark, denounced the activities of terror and extremist movements, urging the world to unite against it.
“Today, we face far more man-made crises than natural calamities,” he declared. “We may not control Mother Nature, but who else, but us, is responsible for securing peace and justice in our world today?”
He added that this year in particular, crises have become very appalling and somehow stretching the world body beyond its elastic limit.
“This year, the horizon of hope is darkened. Our hearts are made heavy by unspeakable acts and the deaths of innocents. Not since the end of the World War II have there been so many refugees, displaced people and asylum-seekers. Never before has the United Nations been asked to reach so many people with emergency food assistance and other life-saving supplies,” he said.
Reciting the litany of global atrocities, Ki-Moon stressed that decisiveness in action and words is the solution. He specifically mentioned Somalia where a coalition of African states confronts the terrorist group, Al-Shabab; Nigeria where Boko Haram’s “murderous onslaught gains strength, with shocking impacts on women and girls”; and Iraq and Syria where “we see new depths of barbarity with each passing day, and devastating spill-over effects” across the region.
He told the gathering: “We need decisive action to stop atrocity, crimes and frank discussion on what created the threat in the first place,” and therefore specifically charged the Security Council, which is the spearhead of the UN actions, to work in unity, stressing that “when the body acts as one, results follow”.
On the foreign terrorist fighters, Ki-Moon called for decisive action in support of efforts to confront the extremists.
“It is undeniable and the subject of broad international consensus that these groups pose an immediate threat to international peace and security,” he said.
“It may seem as if the world is falling apart, as crises pile up and diseases spread. But leadership is precisely about finding the seeds of hope and nurturing them into something bigger. That is our duty. That is my call to you today.”
And Obama, president of the U.S. which seat currently at the chairmanship of the Security Council, stated in his speech that unity and consensus should be the watchword of the world leaders, if they are to defeat terrorism in any guise.
“We reject any suggestion of a clash of civilisations. Believe in permanent religious war is the misguided refuge of extremists who cannot build or create anything, and therefore peddle only fanaticism and hate.
“It is no exaggeration to say that humanity’s future depends on us uniting against those who would divide us along fault lines of tribe or sect, race or religion. This is not simply a matter of words. Collectively, we must take concrete steps to address the danger posed by religiously-motivated fanatics, and the trends that fuel their recruitment,” he said.
Obama noted that though terrorism is not new in the world, today it has assumed a dangerous dimension that must propel the whole world to act decisively.
According to him, in “the 20th century, terror was used by all manner of groups who failed to come to power through public support. But in this century, we have faced a more lethal and ideological brand of terrorists who have perverted one of the world’s great religions.”
He explained that with access to technology that allows small groups to do great harm, they have embraced a nightmarish vision that would divide the world into adherents and infidels – killing as many innocent civilians as possible, and employing the most brutal methods to intimidate people within their communities.
Obama, however, flashed a ray of hope: “The ideology of ISIS or Al-Qaeda or Boko Haram will wilt and die if it is consistently exposed, confronted and refuted in the light of day.”
President Jonathan, on his part, declared that the convergence at the UN was apropos, stressing that the world was facing serious challenges that needed to be collectively addressed.
As if referring to the dreaded acts of the Boko Haram sect back home in Nigeria, he declared that terrorism remains a major threat to global peace and a setback to development.
“This session is coming at a particularly trying period when our world faces a number of critical challenges which makes it imperative for us to work within the Charter of the United Nations to meaningfully address them… Terrorism constitutes a major threat to global peace and security, and undermines the capacity for sustained development,” said Jonathan.
The president said that, in Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the North East part of the country has proven to be a challenge to national stability, but promised that his administration would spare no effort in addressing the menace.
He, however, reiterated the needed support and partnership of the international community for the emergent Africa, maintaining that the continent is no longer merely a destination for aid, but one that is involved in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges on the global stage.
“Our continent stands ready to continue to engage the rest of the world as a partner in formulating a global development agenda that will guarantee peace, security and stability… The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity,” he said.
While thanking the international community for the support given Nigeria so far, Jonathan recalled the dread of terror groups, explaining that few days ago, the stark reality of the menace was again brought to the fore by the dastardly terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya. He appealed that “we must stand together to win this war together”.
All other world leaders agreed, among other issues, that the terror groups by any name must not be allowed; sources of fund must be cut off; while states must unite in fighting them within the limit of international law.
According to security experts, the threat of terrorism is accelerating across Africa at an alarming rate, so much that so far, 22 countries have been targeted, and, in the Middle East, before the last count, another group springs up.