Nigeria: Bola Tinubu wants to tackle terrorist funding sources
At the Abuja summit on terrorism, while Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé calls for regional collaboration against the scourge, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu proposes tackling the sources of financing for terrorists, which are illegal mining operations.
According to him, targeting the illegal mining activities of these groups is a vital strategy in the fight against jihadist groups. « Those who think that illegal mining has no connection to terrorism financing are greatly mistaken. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to contribute to this cause because it is external funding, not African money, that fuels these illegal operations », emphasized the Nigerian head of state.
In the Sahel, these terrorist groups rely on illicit revenues generated from extortion and control of artisanal mines. As a solution to address this threat, President Bola Tinubu proposes the establishment of official mining zones to regulate the artisanal gold mining sector and cut off unauthorized taxation channels exploited by jihadists.
This strategy will be supported by security and legal mechanisms, especially since the sector has thrived for decades in Nigeria and the Sahel.
