As chair of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) for March, Morocco reaffirmed on Wednesday in Addis Ababa that fighting violent extremism requires a proactive approach focused on prevention and reintegration.
Morocco's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, who chaired a PSC videoconference meeting devoted to the " deradicalization as a leverage for the fight against violent extremism in Africa", emphasized that addressing violent extremism goes beyond security interventions and requires a proactive approach centered on prevention and reintegration.
Deradicalization thus relies on the dissemination of enlightened counter-discourses by reference figures capable of deconstructing narratives of hatred and intolerance. It also involves offering credible alternatives to those who detach themselves from radical ideologies in order to break the cycles of radicalization, Arrouchi stressed.
Acting against radicalization therefore also means acting on its root causes, by strengthening the resilience of societies through education, employment and social inclusion, while consolidating governance and conflict prevention mechanisms, the Ambassador added.
The theme chosen by the Moroccan presidency addresses the current realities and growing challenges posed by violent extremism in Africa. In response, deradicalization is positioned as an innovative lever, according to the diplomat.
(MAP: 19 March 2025)
