Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, announced on Wednesday in New York that Rabat will host the first Conference on Victims of Terrorism in Africa, on December 2–3, 2025.
This conference, to be organized by Morocco with the support of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), aims to raise international awareness of the dramatic situation of African victims, to hear their testimonies directly, to identify their priority needs, and to share best practices in support and rehabilitation.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, organized by UNOCT in cooperation with Iraq and Spain, Mr. Bourita stressed that the Rabat conference "will mark a turning point in the international approach to supporting victims on the continent," noting that African victims of terrorism, if supported and empowered, can become "powerful voices against radicalization and extremism."
The minister also reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to promoting the rights and protection of terrorism victims, particularly in Africa, where "nearly 60% of the world's victims are reported."
He commended the efforts of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism which, since 2019, "has helped advance the international agenda in favor of victims and strengthen the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy."
"Behind every life lost to terrorism are families and entire communities, permanently scarred by psychological trauma and material hardship," Mr. Bourita stated.
In this respect, he recalled the importance of giving victims a voice and reinforcing international solidarity, citing the Congress of Vittoria in Spain and the launch of the “Victims of Terrorism Associations Network” (VoTAN) in April 2025 as landmark initiatives.
Mr. Bourita further noted that Africa "is paying a heavy price," with an increasing number of people killed in terrorist attacks, stressing the need for "institutionalized mechanisms tailored specifically to the African context, in order to meet the concrete needs of victims and their communities."
The minister reiterated Morocco’s conviction that "peaceful communities mean a peaceful continent," calling for solidarity to be translated into concrete action in support of victims of terrorism.
