UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday emphasized the urgent need to combat the rising tide of terrorism in Africa, describing the situation as a "clear and present danger" not only to the continent but to the world.

"Now this building, and our organization, represent humanity's highest ideals. Peace, dialogue, development, human rights, and collaboration. Terrorism represents the polar opposite of these ideals," the secretary-general stated in an address at the meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Compact at the UN headquarters in New York.

The secretary-general highlighted the alarming increase of terrorist activities in Africa. "In just a few short years, Africa has become a global epicenter of terrorism," he noted.

He stressed the vulnerability of women and girls to sexual and gender-based violence in this growing inferno, which is "engulfing millions of Africans."

Terrorist groups such as Da'esh and Al-Qaida, exploiting local conflicts and weaknesses, are extending their reach across the continent "community by community," the secretary-general underscored.

In regions like Somalia, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Mozambique, and the Sahel, civilians are enduring the brunt of these conflicts, living in what the secretary-general described as "a hell on Earth."

The top UN official called for urgent, scaled-up action, highlighting positive examples of counter-terrorism efforts like the Multinational Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin and the African Union's initiatives.

He emphasized the importance of sustainable, inclusive development and human rights as critical anchors in the fight against terrorism. "Terrorism finds its home in fragility and instability," he said, adding that a comprehensive approach connecting development, governance, and sustainable peace is vital.

In a reminder of the human cost of terrorism, the secretary-general referred to the plight of women and girls, often the first and worst affected, citing examples from Nigeria and Iraq. He reiterated the need for counter-terrorism strategies to prioritize human rights. "We cannot fight (terrorism) by repeating the same denial."

Concluding his remarks, Guterres expressed his belief in Africa's potential, calling it "the home of hope."

He called for immediate and collaborative efforts to eradicate the shadow of terrorism. "For Africa, for Africans, and for the world we share - let's continue standing together and forging new solutions to lift this shadow, once and for all."

The Global Counter-Terrorism Compact is the largest inter-agency framework across the three pillars of work of the United Nations: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Enditem

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