SUBVERSIVE elements are exploiting the social media to destabilise Africa, some 52 intelligence agencies alleged at the weekend.
Acting under the aegis of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Agencies of Africa (CISSA), the spy agencies said it had resolved to take necessary measures to check the social media threats.
According to a communique issued at the end of its 16th Conference in Abuja, CISSA, however, noted that the measures to be taken would at the same time guarantee the citizens’ rights to information.
The communique said: “Conference also noted that despite the many benefits of social media, it is increasingly being exploited by some subversive elements and negative forces to destabilise African continent.
“Conference therefore agreed that social media represents a threat and resolved to take necessary measure to check it whilst at the same time guaranteeing the citizens’ right to information,” CISSA said.
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The conference which was opened by President Muhammadu Buhari was later chaired by the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, who assumed the leadership of the body for the next one year.
The Conference had “Illicit Financial Outflows from Africa and its impact on National Security and Development” as its theme.
The directors-general of 52 African Intelligence Agencies and other delegates participated in the conference. Only Morocco, Eritrea and Seychelles were yet to be members of the organisation in the entire Africa.
The conference expressed concern over increasing security threats experienced by some African countries and resolved to support efforts by governments to restore peace and stability in such countries.
It, however, noted that the common thread that permeated throughout all the presentations was that Africa loses billions of dollars annually in illicit financial outflows which have become a serious threat to the continent sustainable development, governance as well as peace and security agenda.
“This threat also undermines Africa’s efforts to combat terrorism and attainment of Agenda 2063, including its flagship project of Silencing the Guns by 2020″, the Communique asserted.
To address the challenge, the conference examined options by which it members would support national, regional and continental efforts to combat illicit financial outflows, such as tracing and recovery of funds lodged outside the continent.
The communique reads in part: “Conference considered core business issues discussed during the 18th meeting of the panel of experts, which preceded the 16th ordinary session of conference and re-affirmed its commitment to further enhance mutual confidence among members and to exchange intelligence to serve their common objectives, including the attainment of the goal of a conflict-free Africa as envisioned by the African heads of state and government.
“Conference further took stock of the gains that had been made since its 15th conference held in Windhoek, Namibia, in contributing to the building of a conflict-free African continent as per the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by the year 2020”.
Ambassador Abubakar promised his commitment to working closely with each member state to resolve common challenges.
In his closing remarks at the conference, he added that his leadership would mobilise fresh ideas from members and partners to ensure that their organisations not only excel, but help bring sustainable peace and development to the continent.
The NIA chief lauded the out-going CISSA executive secretary, Ambassador Shimeles Semayat, for his dedication and selfless service to the committee in the past five years, saying the body and his successor would still need his vast experiences and guidance to enable them succeed.
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