On 4 June, UNOAU participated in a panel discussion organized in the context of the Second Session of the Africa Dialogues on Counter Terrorism in the margins of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS).

The event was jointly organized by the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the AU, the AU and the EU and focused on ‘Countering the Financing of Terrorism in Africa’. Participants included AUC representatives, various Permanent Missions to the AU, Chiefs and representatives of African Defence Forces and Academia.

The panel discussions were moderated by Tamer Azzam, Permanent Mission of Egypt, and presentations were made by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Ambassador Javier Niño Perez, Head of the EU Delegation to the AU; Ambassador Zeinab Kotoko, Executive Secretary of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA); and Ms. Hester Paneras, Head of Institutional and Operational Partnership Service at UNOAU.

The seminar aimed at generating actionable insights, recommendations, and collaborations to enhance regional and global efforts in countering terrorism financing and at contributing to the development of effective strategies, policies, and practices that mitigate the risk of terrorist financing and uphold global security and stability. The seminar focused on the following thematic areas: Understanding Terrorism Financing; Legal and Regulatory Frameworks; Financial Institutions and Compliance; Public-Private Partnerships; Innovation and Technology; and Global Cooperation and Capacity Building.