PSC/PR/BR (DXCII) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 592nd meeting, held on 19 April 2016, in Addis Ababa, dedicated an open session to the theme: decisive role of deradicalization policies in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. Council listened to a statement delivered by Ambassador Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as statements from AU Members, international partners, specialized institutions and civil society organizations. Council recalled previous decisions of the AU on the issue of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, and re-emphasized the critical importance of the provisions of communiqués PSC/AHG/COMM.(CDLV) and PSC/AHG/COMM.1(DLXXI) of its 455th and 571st meetings. Council further recalled communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(DXLIII) and press statement PSC/PR/BR.2(DLX) adopted at its 543rd and 560th meetings held on 11 September 2015 and 26 November 2015, respectively, which articulated a comprehensive framework for the implementation of the AU and international counter-terrorism instruments in Africa. Council and Participants expressed deep concern at the escalating trend of terrorism in Africa as well as the spread geographically of terrorist attacks with ever changing tactics, targets, actors, recruitment methods and funding. They strongly condemed the terrorist attacks that continue to be carried out against public places, including educational institutions, hotels, markets and places of worship, resulting in the death of hundreds, wounding many more and leading to displacement of millions. They noted that the recent attacks in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia were taking place against the backdrop of a global rise in terrorist activities. Council and Participants noted that violent extremism is a major threat to African peace and security, therefore addressing violent extremism both by preventive and counter actions is critical in the quest for a stable and prosperous Africa in line with the peace goals established in Agenda 2063. They further noted that violent extremism is not linked to any single ideology and is transnational in nature, therefore, there is need for AU Member States to support a holistic and multidimensional approach in addressing the drivers of radicalization which feed into violent extremism and terrorism. They stressed the need to name and shame those supporting, in whatever manner, terrorist activities, as well as radicalization. They also emphasized that a holistic approach encompasses the need to address all organizations and terrorist groups wherever they exist and without prejudice in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter and International Law, taking into account the fact that all of these groups and organizations adopt the same ideological approach based on the use of force and violence to achieve their ends.