Morocco and UNOCT organize in Rabat the First International Conference on African Victims of Terrorism

On 2–3 December 2025, the Kingdom of Morocco hosted, , a groundbreaking event that marked a decisive turning point in global counter-terrorism efforts: the first-ever International Conference dedicated to African victims of terrorism. Held in Rabat and organized in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the conference brought together African governments, regional and international organizations, victim associations, researchers, and leading experts.

Over two days, participants shed light on the profound human cost of terrorism across Africa, where the Sahel alone accounted for 51% of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024. Despite this devastating toll, African victims have remained among the least recognized and least supported worldwide. The Rabat Conference sought to correct this imbalance by placing the voices, rights, and needs of victims at the heart of counter-terrorism strategies.

A Platform for Testimony, Reflection, and Action

The event featured powerful testimonies from survivors who described trauma, family loss, forced displacement, and the socioeconomic hardships faced by affected communities. Experts outlined the far-reaching consequences of extremist violence, emphasizing the psychological, social, and economic dimensions that often persist long after attacks.

Discussions centered on three key themes:

1. The human cost of terrorism in Africa, illustrated through testimonies and expert analysis;
2. Strengthening national legal and policy frameworks for victim recognition and support, including the UN Model Legislative Provisions;
3. The role of victims as partners in preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), notably through education, community engagement, and counter-narratives.

Many African States continue to build or finetune their victim support systems. Participants stressed the urgent need for comprehensive, multisectoral mechanisms that combine legal, psychological, social, and economic assistance. Supporting victims, they agreed, is essential to rebuilding trust, cohesion, and community resilience.

Morocco’s Vision: Solidarity, Human Dignity, and an African Response

In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, highlighted the ambition of the Rabat Conference: to define shared African objectives and a common pathway toward justice, recovery, and resilience.

Minister Bourita outlined three strategic priorities:

1. Restoring dignity through listening and long-term care: Victims’ testimonies must be fully acknowledged as essential human, social, and political material. Ensuring long-term psychological, social, and economic support is crucial for rebuilding and fostering reintegration.

2. Building a unified African vision centered on victims: Africa’s diverse experiences with terrorism provide valuable lessons. Victims should be active contributors to policy-making and P/CVE efforts, not passive recipients of assistance.

3. Creating an African digital platform for victims of terrorism: This platform would strengthen collective memory, enable knowledge exchange among African States, and serve as a practical tool for policymakers. It would also give visibility to victims’ experiences and resilience.

The conference reflects Morocco’s strategic choices in foreign policy, inspired by the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who considers Africa not merely a geographical affiliation, but a deeply rooted space of solidarity, shared destiny, and human connection.

Rabat declaration: A commitment to African Victims of Terrorism

During the Conference, participants endorsed the Rabat Declaration on Supporting African Victims of Terrorism, under the theme “Standing with Africa’s victims of terrorism: towards justice, recovery, and resilience.”The Declaration reflects a shared commitment from African States, international organizations, UN entities, and civil society to recognize and support victims across the continent.

Key commitments include:

Upholding victims’ rights to truth, justice, recognition, and reparations;

Strengthening national legal and support frameworks and holding perpetrators accountable;

Providing comprehensive psychological, social, and economic assistance, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as women, children, widows, and former child soldiers;

Empowering victims and survivors to contribute to countering extremism and enhancing community resilience;

Encouraging African cooperation, creation of memorial initiatives, national victim registries, and a continental digital platformto document experiences and good practices.

The Declaration underscores the central role of UNOCT in supporting victims and promoting international cooperation, while affirming Morocco’s leadership and solidarity in addressing the human impact of terrorism in Africa.