The first conference dedicated to African victims of terrorism, which opened on December 2 in Rabat, was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, with the support of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT).

This inaugural session aims to place victims at the heart of strategic discussions on preventing and combating violent extremism, grounding the security approach in a human, memorial, and restorative dimension, according to the organizers. Speaking at the opening, Nasser Bourita reiterated that Africa remains the region most affected by terrorism, highlighting a significant intensification of attacks, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa. He noted that this violence has caused thousands of victims and triggered a chain reaction of consequences: mass displacement, school dropouts, the destruction of entire communities, and the weakening of social cohesion.

The minister also indicated that the Kingdom's actions are in line with the royal vision, through an integrated national strategy based on three pillars: security vigilance, socio-economic development, and the strengthening of the religious sphere. Before giving the floor to the various speakers, Nasser Bourita specified that the central objective of this meeting is to transform the recognition of victims into a concrete and structuring African commitment.

Highlights of the speech by Minister Nasser Bourita at the opening of the 1st Conference on African Victims of Terrorism, held today in Rabat— Morocco Diplomacy 🇲🇦 (@MarocDiplomatie)

December 2, 2025

The African representatives present, particularly those from the Sahel, commended King Mohammed VI for Morocco's support of the region's stability and development. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the participants adopted the Rabat Declaration, which notably established an online platform to register victims and provide the necessary mechanisms to alleviate their suffering.

The foreign ministers of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso were among those who took part in this conference.