Algeria, S. Africa keen to fight terrorism in Africa

Algeria and South Africa stressed Wednesday their determination to wipe out terrorism in Africa, Algerian news agency APS reported.

The pledge was made in a joint statement issued at the end of a three-day visit by South African President Jacob Zuma to the North African country.

In the statement, Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his South African counterpart asserted their will to combine efforts to fight terrorism, in a bid to safeguard Africa's stability and security.

They voiced concern over the spread of terrorist groups, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking in the continent.

The two leaders stressed their support for the African Union's efforts aiming at fighting terrorist groups of Al-Shabab, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram."

They further reiterated their "commitment" to work towards the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the Protocol on the criminalization of payment of ransoms to terrorist groups.

The visit "reflects the interest of both heads of state to enhance traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation and expresses their common will to consolidate their strategic partnership, the statement said.

Bouteflika and Zuma hailed the recommendations and the outcome of the sixth meeting of Higher Bilateral Commission of Cooperation, which was held on Tuesday.

The meeting was an "occasion for the two countries to review the state of cooperation in several areas and to confirm their determination to further strengthen the partnership through various bilateral cooperation mechanisms, the statement said.

On Tuesday, President Zuma told reporters after his meeting with Bouteflika that Algeria is a strategic partner in the North African region.

He added that the two nations have potentials to boost their trade partnership, saying that South-African businessmen are keen to invest in Algeria. Endit