Bourita calls for stronger international action against non-state armed groups

Monday 21 September 2026 - 17:15

By: Azzat Manal

Bourita calls for stronger international action against non-state armed groups

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has called for stronger international cooperation to address the growing challenges posed by non-state armed groups, warning that these actors are becoming increasingly capable of exploiting security weaknesses, crossing borders and connecting conflicts in different regions.

Speaking in New York on September 21 during a high-level event held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Bourita reiterated Morocco’s opposition to armed groups operating outside state authority. The meeting, organized by the Gulf Cooperation Council, focused on the security challenges created by non-state armed actors.

Bourita highlighted developments in Africa, where armed groups, terrorist organizations and criminal networks have increasingly interacted across borders. He also pointed to the growing use of advanced technologies by non-state actors, including military-grade drones. UN discussions in 2026 have similarly highlighted the rapid expansion of drone capabilities among armed and terrorist groups in parts of Africa.

The Moroccan minister also raised concerns over links between terrorist organizations, separatist movements and transnational criminal networks, as well as the use of armed groups as proxies in regional conflicts. He argued that such dynamics can complicate efforts to uphold state sovereignty and international law.

Bourita called for earlier and more coordinated international action, particularly against the financing of armed groups, illicit arms transfers, trafficking networks and external support. He stressed the importance of accountability and of closing legal and institutional gaps that can allow armed actors to operate with limited consequences.

The concerns raised by Morocco come as the United Nations continues to examine the changing security landscape in Africa. UN assessments have linked the expansion of non-state armed groups to governance gaps, weak institutions and instability in areas where state authorities have limited capacity to provide security and public services.

Morocco has also developed a longstanding partnership with the United Nations on counter-terrorism and capacity building in Africa. The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism operates a regional programme office in Rabat, which provides training and technical assistance to African member states in areas including counter-terrorism investigations, border security, prison management and preventing violent extremism.

The Moroccan government has repeatedly presented counter-terrorism as a multidimensional effort combining security measures, prevention, legal frameworks and socioeconomic policies. At the United Nations, Morocco has also emphasized the need to adapt international responses to new technologies and changing forms of conflict.

Bourita’s remarks therefore place the issue within a broader debate over how governments and international organizations can respond to armed groups whose activities increasingly extend beyond traditional battlefields. The challenge involves not only containing existing threats, but also preventing armed networks from gaining greater influence over future conflicts while maintaining respect for international law and state sovereignty.