Algeria hosts counter-terrorism forum

An international counter-terrorism forum kicked off on Monday in Algeria, as 30 nations have met to discuss terrorist threat in the Sahel region and ways to counter it.

"The terrorist threat is persisting in the African Sahel region, despite the huge efforts that have been done so far by local countries to counter it," Algerian Foreign Minister for the Maghreb, the African Union and the Arab League, Abdelkader Messahel, said in his opening remarks at the forum.

He said in spite of the efforts aiming at improving the living conditions of local people through domestic and regional economic projects, the very limited resources possessed by these countries do not allow them to fulfill all the aspirations of their people.

Messahel said this shaky situation has been manipulated by ill-intentioned groups to feed terrorism by recruitment campaigns.

"As an experienced country in fight against terrorism, Algeria's policy has particularly focused since 1999 on two aspects, namely national reconciliation and democracy, each playing an essential and fundamental role in counter-terrorism," he said.

The majority of countries located within the African sub-Saharan and Sahel region are hit by underdevelopment and poverty, becoming safe heaven bases for extremist and terrorist groups who tied tight knots with narcotic and arm traffickers. Endit