Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas
By Cyril Barnes
Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the State of Kuwait, has called on the intervention of international bodies to combat the spate of terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel at the High-Level Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms”, co-organized by the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
Convened in follow-up to the “Dushanbe Process on countering terrorism and its financing”, launched by the Government of Tajikistan in May 2018, the two-day conference is geared towards promoting regional and international cooperation on various border security and management issues, calling upon Member States to step up national efforts and bilateral, sub-regional, regional, and international cooperation, as appropriate, to improve border security and customs controls to prevent and detect the movement of terrorists and illicit trafficking.
Addressing the delegates on behalf of Hon. Timothy Musa Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ishata Thomas explained the rapidly evolving threat and exponential increase in terrorism in recent years, stressing the drastic proliferation of terrorist groups all around the world, possessing enhanced capacity to inflict severe physical damage, coupled with an increasing ability to disseminate misinformation in communities that had limited opportunities for education and economic empowerment, especially for youths to live in dignity.
She further emphasised the need to respond to the threat of terrorism in a coordinated and collaborative approach, believing that no state can tackle the imminent threat alone; therefore, strengthening greater cooperation at sub-regional, regional and global levels was imperative. She added that the international community should cooperate through a renewed multilateral commitment to prevent and combat terrorism, complying with international human rights law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Dilating on Sierra Leone’s efforts under the leadership of President Dr Julius Maada Bio, she disclosed that: “Sierra Leone has been at the forefront to increase the international community’s awareness of the threat of terrorism, working with ECOWAS, the AU and the UN. In this regard, the country organised an Arria-formula meeting in the UN Security Council on “combating the rise of terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel” in June this year. Additionally, during the Presidency of the UN Security Council in August 2024, Sierra Leone called on Council Members to focus their discussions on West Africa and the Sahel, an emerging epicentre of terrorism.”
Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to zero tolerance for terrorism, she further indicated that the government has proactively fostered regional collaboration to enhance its border security efforts, launching the National Security Policy and Strategy (NSPS) in August 2024 to safeguard the country and its people, and at the same time, address evolving security challenges, including terrorism.
Ambassador Thomas also noted that Sierra Leone hosted the Mano River Union Initiative launch to enhance collaboration between Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia in combating terrorism and violent extremism, aligned with the political declaration and regional action plan against terrorism adopted by the ECOWAS Authority.
Whilst thanking the co-organisers of the event, particularly the authorities of the State of Kuwait, she implored states to use the required tools to advance peace and security aimed at fighting terrorism globally.
Various speakers pointed out the urgent need to combat terrorism. His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, stated that at a time when differences and political, economic and social trends are increasing, states should collaborate to confront the scourge strategically and institutionally.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. Kai Sondai Brima, Director of Middle East and Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Mr. Momodu Wurie, Minister Counsellor/Head of Chancery, Sierra Leone Embassy in the State of Kuwait.
