From 16 to 18 March 2015, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted a focused country visit to Cameroon. As requested by the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), the visit had three main objectives: (i) to assess Cameroon’s implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) (including ratification and implementation of the international counter-terrorism instruments and international cooperation on counter-terrorism) and make recommendations concerning steps that Cameroon should take in this regard; (ii) to recommend areas in which Cameroon might benefit from receiving technical assistance; and (iii) to address measures put in place by Cameroon to implement Security Council resolution 1624 (2005).
Adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and therefore binding on all Member States, resolution 1373 (2001) addresses threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) calls on States to enhance dialogue and take all necessary measures to counter incitement of terrorist acts motivated by extremism and intolerance.
The official mission to Cameroon, conducted through engagement with the Government, stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism in accordance with the principle of the rule of law, including human rights, as requested by the Security Council.
The Head of Delegation, Assistant Secretary-General Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, Executive Director of CTED, stressed that terrorism would not be defeated by military means alone, but rather through a combination of military means, judicial and law enforcement measures, and measures to counter violent extremism and meet development needs.
Commenting on Cameroon’s newly adopted Counter-Terrorism Law, Mr. Laborde noted that it showed the commitment of the Government to bringing terrorists to justice. He added that the law’s efficiency would be improved by fully domesticating the international counter-terrorism instruments ratified by Cameroon and thus allow for enhanced judicial cooperation.
The delegation noted the adoption of several measures by the Government, including legislative and administrative measures, and will make recommendations for improving those measures to more effectively comply with international standards, thereby enhancing international cooperation.
The delegation included counter-terrorism experts from CTED, focusing on legislation, law enforcement, and border control, as well as representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), INTERPOL, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT).