The Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) said yesterday that it had built a database of terrorist groups and networks in Africa with a view to halting illicit terror funding in the continent.
The secretary of CISSA), Mr. Shimeles Semayat, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, said the database was built with a view to monitoring and profiling terror networks operating in Africa and confronting security threats facing the continent.
Semayat said the committee monitors terror groups and networks and provides intelligence to the African Union (AU).
“One of the major threats that Africa is facing is the threat of terrorism. As you know terrorism is a network, it transcends national borders. Terrorists carry out attacks from a different place, funding comes from a different source and training from a different place.
“By the same token, we, the African security agencies, need to coordinate to curb the threat of terrorism. We are of the view that if we dry out the source of funding for terrorism, the threat will be reduced.
The internationalised nature of security threats is the reason why African security agencies are coming together to have a united voice in confronting the threats and put pressure and minimise illicit financial flows.
“All African security agencies exchange intelligence, share data, and profile all terrorists and groups in Africa as part of measures to curb terrorism.
“Africa has tried to study illicit financial outflows. A committee headed by former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa was set up and the conclusion is that tens of billions of dollars leave Africa yearly,” he said.
On the conference, Semayat said it would bring together under one roof intelligence chiefs of the continent.
He announced the theme of the conference as ‘Illicit Financial outflows from Africa and their impact on national security and development.’
It would be recalled that illicit financial outflow is seen as a major source of terrorism financing in Africa.
Latest report by the Thabo Mbeki panel set up to investigate illicit financial outflows from Africa said $90 billion is ferried out of Africa annually.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had recently warned bankers who facilitate illicit movement of funds for the purpose of funding terrorism in Nigeria’s northeast of the implication of such act.
CISSA was set up in 2004 to provide intelligence support to the African Union leadership in its effort to maintain peace, security and stability in Africa by means of prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and elimination of all forms of security threats in Africa.
