New York, 24 September 2014
Thank you for calling and chairing this important meeting. Terrorism has been a reality in Africa and across the world for decades, and it continues to be. In some regions, it has even been getting worse. Another reality is that we can and must defeat these terrorists through
concrete actions and cooperation. One year ago this week, the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi claimed dozens of lives. The resolution which we have just adopted is therefore an unfortunate necessity. Additional measures to disrupt travel and terrorist financing are important, and we will continue to do our part.
Above and beyond that, wherever atrocities are being committed, the first priority is to halt them. Only then can efforts to address the root causes be effective.
Terrorism is not caused by religion or ethnicity or even poverty, but by misguided politics and false beliefs. In order to build resilience to extremist narratives, people, especially the young ones, must feel they have a stake in their country.
Thus we fully endorse the call for a broad-based approach to combating violent extremism. In Rwanda, we still face acts of terrorism driven by the ideology of genocide. We have responded with force where necessary, but more importantly we have remained committed to building inclusive and accountable institutions and systems.
In particular, it is essential that those who renounce violence can be accommodated. The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme, a partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank, has provided tens of thousands with a pathway out of extremism.
This resolution reflects a consensus that terrorism is an urgent problem for the entire world. We stand ready to work together to make sure that we address this challenge.