Sahel:Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Ends Rehabilitation Programme In Niamey
Sahel:Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Ends Rehabilitation Programme In Niamey
By Ibrahim Garba
The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) has conducted a specialised programme on the integration and rehabilitation of extremists in Niamey, the capital of the Republic of Niger, in a move described as a model non-kinetic approach to countering extremism in the Sahel.
The programme, held against the backdrop of persistent security and ideological challenges in the region, brought together 30 Nigerien specialists drawn from various sectors.
It focused on strengthening professional capacities in social integration and rehabilitation methodologies, while promoting the exchange of experiences in managing issues related to extremism.
Speaking at the closing of the programme, Nigerien writer and politician, Mr Oumar Moctar Alansary, commended the initiative, saying it demonstrated a balanced scientific and intellectual approach to combating extremism beyond purely military responses.
Alansary said the programme was part of a series of IMCTC initiatives targeted at Sahelian countries, aimed at building sustainable local capacities to counter terrorism by addressing its intellectual and social root causes.
He noted that the initiative aligned with a proposal he submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister of Niger in 2015, which called for nationwide sensitisation on authentic Islamic doctrine based on moderation, tolerance and the outright rejection of extremism and terrorism in all forms.
According to him, the proposal emphasised the need for comprehensive awareness programmes involving Islamic scholars, educators and civil society to promote sound religious consciousness and counter extremist narratives that exploit poverty and ignorance to recruit youths.
Alansary said the practical implementation of such ideas through the IMCTC, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and comprising 42 Islamic countries, represented a strategic investment in the long-term stability of the Sahel, which continues to face growing threats from extremist groups.
He called for the expansion of similar programmes to other countries, stressing that the fight against extremism requires a comprehensive approach that combines security measures with intellectual engagement and collective Islamic cooperation to achieve lasting peace and development.
