FG Urges AU to Crack Down on Illicit Terror Funding

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to intensify efforts and adopt
stronger, coordinated measures to combat illicit funding of terrorism across the continent.
Nigeria’s representative made the appeal on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during a high-level AU session on
peace and security held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The delegation stressed that terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, and other parts of
Africa continue to rely on illegal mining, kidnapping for ransom, smuggling, extortion, and other criminal
enterprises to finance their operations.
The Federal Government urged the AU to strengthen existing mechanisms for tracking and disrupting
these financial networks, improve intelligence sharing among member states, and enhance cooperation
with international partners, including the United Nations and financial intelligence units, to cut off terror
financing at its source.

Nigeria highlighted its own ongoing efforts to combat terrorism financing through improved financial
regulations, inter-agency collaboration, and international partnerships, while calling for a more robust
continental framework to address the transnational nature of the threat.
The appeal comes amid persistent security challenges in parts of Africa, where terrorist organisations
continue to exploit weak governance, porous borders, and criminal economies to sustain their activities.

The AU is expected to consider concrete recommendations and strengthen its counter-terrorism
financing strategies in response to such calls during its upcoming sessions and ministerial meetings.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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