Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - ISIL

Joint Open Briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee

AKHVEDELID — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:27:00 +0000

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The Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee are convening a Joint Open Briefing on the evolution of the threat posed by ISIL in Africa, Member States’ responses, and continuing challenges.

Since 2014, ISIL has penetrated Africa and appears to be gaining strength with a significant footprint in multiple regions. Increased narratives target recruitment on the continent; ISIL propaganda features Africa; and attacks perpetrated by ISIL affiliates, which have caused a large number of casualties, have been trending upwards.

Key ISIL affiliates in West Africa are the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), present mainly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), present mainly in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region more generally, with ISIL presence also elsewhere, in Egypt, Libya, and Somalia in particular. ISIL’s increasing propaganda linked to attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province is a development of significant concern. The socio-political consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have created further vulnerabilities on the African continent and further exacerbated the threat posed by ISIL. The conflict landscape is complicated by armed groups and other terrorist groups in the different regions, where success of the Taliban in Afghanistan may have also emboldened Al Qaeda-affiliated groups.

The trajectory of ISIL in Africa could have far-reaching implications for peace and security in the region and elsewhere. Coherent regional approaches are a matter of priority as well as comprehensive approaches that bring together military, criminal justice, and development efforts, among others. African States have made significant efforts. Progress has been achieved in a range of areas, including, inter alia, through the adoption of specialized legislative frameworks, regional and national military operations, criminal justice responses, efforts related to prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies, enhanced regional cooperation, and measures aiming at addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Nevertheless, although African States recognize the importance of a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to address the root causes of the security challenges facing the continent, States’ efforts to address vulnerabilities are constrained by limited resources and capacity.

Under the Chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the joint open briefing will bring together representatives of Member States, analysts, policymakers, and representatives of civil society and researchers to examine the evolution of the threat posed by ISIL in Africa, and Member States’ responses to the threat and challenges as well as highlighting the perspectives of civil society.

The joint open briefing will take place in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York, with select speakers connecting via an online platform. Interpretation will be provided between all official UN languages.

The joint open briefing will be livestreamed at: https://media.un.org/en/webtv.

The concept note for the joint open briefing is available here:

The agenda for the joint open briefing is available here:

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Joint briefing to the Security Council on the Fourteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh)

AKHVEDELID — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:15:00 +0000

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UN Photo/Evan Schneider

On 9 February 2022, Mr. Weixiong Chen, Acting Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT), briefed the Security Council on the Fourteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat (S/2022/63).

Noting that Da'esh and other terrorist groups had exploited the social restraints, political tensions, and economic recessions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Chen stated that the social consequences of the pandemic could provide fertile ground for radicalization to violence.

The pandemic had “curtailed not only counter-terrorism operations, but also civil society and humanitarian outreach, thereby worsening pre-existing conditions of displacement and insecurity”, he said.

Mr. Voronkov stressed the need to focus on restoring human dignity, trust and social cohesion, referring in particular to the humanitarian situation in refugee camps and detention facilities in Syria and Iraq, where thousands of people, especially children with presumed family links to Da'esh members, remained stranded through no fault of their own, with a possible risk of further radicalization and recruitment.

For that reason, countries of nationality should guarantee humanitarian access, protection, prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration, on the basis of human rights and the rule of law.

The Acting Executive Director and Under Secretary General stressed that counter-terrorism was a long-term challenge with no quick solutions. Although military operations might be needed, holistic approaches with a strong focus on prevention were fundamental to addressing the dynamics at the root of terrorism. The fight against terrorism required a multilateral approach that included national, regional and international efforts, as well as strong collaboration between Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, and civil society.

The Secretary-General’s report recognizes the significant threat that Al-Qaida, Da'esh, and their affiliates continue to pose. It notes that Da’esh has become more decentralized and that, even as it remains active in Iraq and Syria, its regional affiliates continue to expand rapidly due to the proliferation of weapons, especially in fragile conflict contexts in Central, Eastern, Western and Southern Africa.

Mr. Chen reaffirmed CTED’s commitment to support the Council and the Counter-Terrorism Committee and to work together with UNOCT to address ongoing and emerging challenges and developments in countering the terrorist threat, within the framework of a “whole-of-UN” approach.

Mr. Chen also underlined that all counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism strategies and measures must be tailor-made, gender-sensitive, and human rights-compliant.

Watch the full briefing here.

Here are the remarks of Acting Executive Director, Weixiong Chen.

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CTED discusses ISIL trends and developments in Africa with civil society

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 20:42:00 +0000

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Within the framework of its mandate to identify emerging terrorism issues, trends and developments, CTED held two virtual round tables with civil society on the trends and trajectory of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, and affiliated groups across Africa.

The virtual round tables, held from 28 to 29 October and 17 to 18 November 2021, sought to encourage the sharing of on-the-ground insights into recent developments ahead of the planned joint open briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on ISIL in Africa.

The round tables - which featured more than 50 participants from 15 Member States - focused on the evolving terrorist threat in Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel, and North Africa.

Researchers traced the evolution of terrorist groups associated with ISIL, including the increase in violent attacks, and the growing cross-regional terrorist activity in those subregions.

The recent surrenders of individuals believed to be associated with terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin region, as well as changes in ISIL-affiliated groups’ tactics and targets (including the targeting of children and youth and the effects of terrorist groups’ affiliation with ISIL on their modus operandi) were all identified as key trends.

The discussions also focused on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on terrorism and counter-terrorism, including shifts in terrorist narratives towards messages targeting potential recruits forced to spend time at home during the lockdown and hailing the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a reason to support terrorism.

Participants noted that, despite government action in many of the subregions under discussion, terrorism and violent extremism remained a serious threat to security. Responses to the terrorism threat remained over-securitized, and human rights violations continued to occur in some States despite research showing that repression had been counter-productive in addressing terrorism.

Concerns were also raised at minimal civil society involvement and insufficient humanitarian-related responses in African States faced with terrorism, the absence of psychological support for victims and persons associated with terrorism, and Governments’ capacity-related shortcomings in dealing with returning foreign terrorist fighters and their families.

Exchanges between participants and experts highlighted the need for better research on the nuanced nature of terrorist trends and developments in under-studied communities and affirmed the need for comprehensive, whole-of-society approaches that were neither over-securitized nor under-securitized.

Participants also noted the need to strengthen the promotion of victims’ rights, including through appropriate legislative amendments and the creation of dedicated trust funds. They also called for greater integration of the gender dimension in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, especially through women’s empowerment in communities, and stressed the need to address sexual and gender-based violence crimes committed by terrorists.

The participants concluded by recommending the strengthening of civil-military relations and the bolstering of military capacity to enhance cooperation with the criminal justice system in the collection of battlefield evidence. They also called for strengthened compliance with human rights standards and underscored the need for timely and suitable measures to foster community resilience to the harmful effects of terrorism, including by developing meaningful skillsets and sharing the burden of impact.

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PRESS RELEASE: Heads of United Nations counter-terrorism bodies conclude joint visit to Iraq

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:07:00 +0000

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Baghdad and New York, 8 March 2018 – Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), yesterday concluded a two-day visit to Iraq at the invitation of the Government and with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The joint delegation met with high ranking officials in Iraq as well as with representatives of the diplomatic community, UNAMI, and the United Nations Country Team.

The joint delegation congratulated Iraq on the military victory against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and commended Iraq for its continued and long-term resolve in the fight against terrorism. They underscored the importance of comprehensive counter- terrorism efforts in accordance with all the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

“This joint UNOCT – CTED visit symbolises the concerted efforts of the United Nations to support Iraq’s fight against terrorism,” said Mr. Voronkov during the meetings with senior officials. “We want to emphasise, with one voice, the importance of preventing and countering terrorism in accordance with the rule of law, and commend Iraq’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its counter- terrorism laws are in compliance with the universal counter-terrorism legal framework,” stated Ms. Coninsx.

During the meetings, the joint delegation discussed the counter-terrorism priorities of Iraq and the Government’s progress in addressing the 16 priority needs identified by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2015 and endorsed by Iraq.

The United Nations Senior Representatives also visited Fallujah, a one-time stronghold of Daesh west of the Iraqi capital that was liberated by Iraqi forces in June 2016. They met there with the Mayor and other local officials, and toured the city.

The joint delegation reiterated the strong support of the United Nations to Iraq. Based on the priority needs identified, UNOCT will provide technical assistance in priority areas, including capacity-building assistance, which were discussed and reiterated during the visit and in coordination with UNAMI and the UN Country Team.

“This joint visit complements UNAMI’s efforts in supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous country for the people of Iraq,” concluded Mr. Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and the Head of UNAMI.

The three leaders of UNOCT, CTED, and UNAMI have agreed to seize the first available opportunity to report back jointly to the Security Council at one of its relevant upcoming sessions.

Background

This joint visit was conducted within the framework of the joint efforts of UNOCT and CTED to facilitate the delivery of counter-terrorism related technical assistance to Member States in accordance with Security Council resolution 2395 (2017), in which the Security Council underscored the need for the two entities to work closely together, within their respective mandates, to ensure balanced implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

Mandated by the General Assembly, UNOCT was established in June 2017 to provide leadership to the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence, and to strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States.

Established by the Security Council, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is a Special Political Mission of the United Nations, tasked with assisting the Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee in monitoring the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant counter-terrorism resolutions. CTED conducts objective country on site assessments that constitute the basis for the concerned technical assistance and capacity-building projects.

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For more information, please contact:
Mr. Samir Ghattas, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
Ms. Laurence Gerard, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Mr. Mattias Sundholm, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). .

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Three Security Council Committees jointly briefed by Russian Federal Security Services

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 06:14:00 +0000

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On 22 February 2018, the Counter-Terrorism Committee heldan informal joint meeting with the Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the Security Council Taliban Sanctions Committee, to receive a briefing by Mr. Igor Sirotkin, Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), Head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) Central Office and NAC Deputy Chairman. The meeting was co-chaired by the Permanent Representative of Peru as Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan as Chair of the two sanctions committees.

Mr. Sirotkin briefed the three Committees, as well as the invited entities, on the main outcomes of the XVIth Meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security Agencies, and Law Enforcement Organizations that took place in Krasnodar (Russia) in October 2017. Speaking of the Consolidated Assessment of Future Terrorist Threats agreed upon by the participants in the XVIth Meeting, Mr. Sirotkin underlined that although ISIL had sustained significant losses in terms of manpower in Syria and Iraq, it had transformed into a network-based organization. “ISIL’s cells sprawl across and beyond the Middle East towards Central and Southeastern Asia, and the African continent,” said Mr. Sirotkin. He also spoke about the surge of lone-actor terrorist acts in Europe, and the threat of foreign terrorist fighters taking advantage of migrant routes.

The XVIth Meeting focused on three areas: terrorism counteraction, terrorism prevention, and mitigation and elimination of consequences of terrorist attacks. Responding to questions from the Committees’ Members, Mr. Sirotkin stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism, including preventive efforts of the relevant authorities in coordination with civil society. In the Russian Federation, such an approach is ensured by NAC and, over the past five years, resulted in particular in the disengagement from terrorist/extremist activity of over 300 individuals.

The annual Meeting also plays an important role in facilitating the sharing of intelligence information between relevant authorities. In this regard, NAC and FSB continue to maintain an International Counterterrorism Database (ICD), a project focused on developing a common antiterrorist information environment for security intelligence and law-enforcement operators worldwide.

“We must continue to strengthen our partnerships. We must ensure that, through our cooperation, collaboration, coordination, and joint efforts, our commitment and our capacities are stronger than before,” said the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in his introductory remarks. He also welcomed the constructive dialogue between the Committee, CTED, and FSB aimed at addressing common terrorism-related concerns and enhancing international cooperation.

A day earlier, Mr. Sirotkin met with CTED’s Executive Director to discuss the cooperation between CTC/CTED and FSB, in which they agreed to continue and enhance the good working relationship between the two entities.

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Counter-Terrorism Committee holds briefing on returning foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:07:00 +0000

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As ISIL (Da’esh) continues to lose territory in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, it has moved into a new phase, marked in particular by the geographical dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), and by the increase in attacks carried out against critical infrastructure and civilian (“soft”) targets. In this regard the Chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Amr Aboulatta, highlighted that the global terrorist threat is evolving in scale and complexity.

This creates additional challenges for law enforcement and judicial officers, including relating to the collection, preservation, and sharing of evidence obtained in conflict and post-conflict settings that is admissible in criminal courts. On 8 November 2017, the CTC held a well-attended informal open briefing that focused on legal issues and emerging challenges relating to the treatment and prosecution of FTFs, including returnees.

In the first session, a CTED expert and Queen’s Counsel Brigadier-General (retired) Kenneth Watkin underscored the importance of a law enforcement and criminal justice approach to countering terrorism, which is based on human rights compliant arrest and detention over the killing of a suspect. The speakers focused on the role of the military in evidence collection for the investigation and prosecution of terrorists who commit terrorist acts in conflict zones.

In the second session, CTED underscored the importance of effective border management, including the so-called 4th digital border of the Internet, including the Dark web. In countering this challenge, INTERPOL emphasized cooperation and preemptive action to ensure access to the right information at the right time, including by making full use of databases and biometrics at the disposal of States.

Thanking the Members of the Committee and UN colleagues for the warm welcome she had received, CTED’s new Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, stressed the need to prevent terrorist acts by fighting impunity and bringing terrorists to justice. She also highlighted the unique nature of CTED’s analytical work which draws on its assessments, broad network of partners, and in-depth knowledge of its experts.

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Addressing CTC, Australia stresses need for regional and international partnerships

BMUSONI — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:03:00 +0000

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Addressing a meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Australia stressed the need to develop strong regional and international partnerships in combating terrorism and violent extremism.

Speaking at the Committee’s 27 July 2017 meeting in New York, Mr. Robert Delaney, First Assistant Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department of Australia, briefed members on the terrorist threat to Australia and South-East Asia, as well as on Australia’s recent legislative responses.

In countering terrorism and violent extremism, there was a need for an integrated, global approach that incorporated multilateral approaches, regional cooperation, national strategies, and engagement at the local level, including by civil society, he said. The continued engagement of the United Nations in the region was vital.

States of the region faced a number of challenges, including lengthy, porous borders; the increasing convergence of terrorist groups; lack of intelligence-sharing; terrorist financing; and online terrorist propaganda. The propaganda spread by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh) had resonated with regional extremists, Mr. Delaney said.

There had been an increase in ISIL-inspired attacks in the region since 2016, and at least 600 individuals from the region were currently fighting in the conflict zones of the Middle East.

Australia’s regional engagement includes close cooperation with numerous partner organizations, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), and the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT). It also participates in regional counter-terrorism initiatives and has collaborated with the Abu Dhabi-based Hedayah Centre to develop a compendium of regional counter-narratives.

CTC members recalled the importance of all relevant Security Council resolutions and recognised Australia’s efforts in counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism in this regard.

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Interview with Roger Wilkins, President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF):”We need to focus on concrete things that we can achieve together”

BMUSONI — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 22:29:00 +0000

Interview with Roger Wilkins, President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF):”We need to focus on concrete things that we can achieve together”
In a closed meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held on 18 December 2014, the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mr. Roger Wilkins briefed the Committee on FATF activities and cooperation between the United Nations and the FATF. Following the briefing, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) sat down with Mr. Wilkins for an exclusive interview.

What is FATF’s general assessment of the threat posed by terrorist financing globally?

This is obviously a very complex question. One of the major changes is that the concept of state-sponsored terrorism is no longer a major issue in the modern world of terrorism. What you are looking at now is actors operating in the same way as multinational corporations which are part of the global economy, generating funds through a number of different activities, including profit-making mechanisms. Usually they receive some funding through donations, but donations are not a sustainable source of funding as they tend to be a one-off. Instead, these actors use resources such as oil, diamonds, drugs… So we are looking at enterprises that trade in goods and produce, maybe even human trafficking to some extent – and moving funds. In the case of ISIL, they are not only running a de facto corporation, but also an army. Whereas the taking down of Al-Qaeda after 9/11 was largely successful, we now have the proliferation of Al-Qaeda branches nationally around the world, and we see the proliferation of funds as well. Another observation is that today terrorism is quite cheap, and that terrorism is linked to organized crime in imaginative and opportunistic ways.

How can the FATF contribute to the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) with regards to the prevention of the financing of foreign terrorist fighters and ISIL?

First of all, we have listed six steps that countries have to follow under the existing resolutions to comply with standards and requirements of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) – and we will hold them accountable to that through the normal processes. The second main thing is the project team that I referred to in my briefing to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, which we are hoping will come up with more intelligence, a better understanding of what money there is, where it is coming from, and spurring others to act on these findings. It is very clear to us that Security Council resolution 2178 falls within the purview of the FATF standards, as it is a terrorism financing-related resolution, so this is obviously something that will form part of our mutual evaluation process as we go through countries assessing their implementation.

What is the FATF doing to create greater awareness with the private sector about the risks of foreign terrorist fighters?

We do a lot of work in terms of guidance for the private sector on a whole range of issues, including in this area, that are distributed to key players in different countries. We also organise regular discussions with the private sector, and every year we have a proper consultation with the key players – banks, insurance companies, and regulatory bodies – at various levels. We also do a lot of engagement with the private sector as an important routine part of our country assessments. I think importantly now is that some regulators are raising the spectre of non-compliance with us, which is concentrating the minds of a number of private sector players to raise the level of awareness in a way I think they haven’t before. In some cases, for example, where banks have failed to comply with some of these regulations, large amounts of money have been paid in fines – and the publicity around these cases has done a lot in terms of raising private sector awareness. What is positive is that there is an appetite out there to find out more from us about these standards, and what these private actors need to do to comply with them.

How can the United Nations contribute to the work of FATF?

There are a number of practical things we can do together: First of all, the United Nations can assist in making our reports public, which helps in terms of making Member States and jurisdictions comply with our recommendations. Secondly, we want to make sure that the UN’s and the FATF’s country assessments are in line. In today’s briefing, which was very useful, we talked about the parameters of the problem; next we need to talk about systems, incentives, opportunities, and solutions, in a broader follow-up conversation.

The past mutual evaluations have shown that Member States experience challenges in implementing the freezing of terrorist assets. What could be done to improve the compliance of Member States with their obligations and to emphasize on the benefits of these preventive measures?

I think there needs to be a lot more continued outreach in this area, as well as making technical assistance available. This is a universal problem. I think there are several countries that don’t understand what they need to do to mitigate their terrorism financing risks – which is different from their terrorism risk. Everybody needs to do their part; otherwise money will continue to flow through the weakest link.

In some Member States there might be a lack of political will, in others a lack of capacity, and in a third group of countries a misunderstanding of what can or cannot be achieved by the legal system. We need to get away from what can at times be abstract discussions and focus on operational, concrete things that we can achieve together.

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