Press Release

Mr. Sofiane Chaib, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the National Community Abroad, received Ms. Gemma Huggins today. Ms. Huggins is the Ambassador and Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently on a working visit to Algeria from September 27 to 29.
The Australian official's visit falls within the framework of strengthening dialogue and cooperation on counter-terrorism issues. Her program also included meetings with officials from the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL).
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Algeria’s experience in combating terrorism and violent extremism and to exchange views on the evolution of terrorist threats—particularly on the African continent and in the Sahel region. It also served as a forum to explore ways to enhance cooperation and coordination, as well as to support international efforts in this field at the multilateral level, specifically within the framework of the United Nations.
In this context, the Secretary of State outlined the pillars of the comprehensive and integrated approach Algeria adopts to combat terrorism. This approach combines an effective security response with efforts to address the root causes and conditions exploited by terrorist organizations for recruitment and expansion—achieved by strengthening state institutions, supporting development and reconciliation initiatives, and fostering cooperation and coordination at both regional and international levels. The Secretary of State also highlighted the role played by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as the African Union Champion for Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism. He underscored Algeria's efforts to foster African ownership and leadership in confronting this scourge, as well as to optimize existing continental frameworks and mechanisms—adapting them to the evolving nature of the terrorist threat and the changing modus operandi of terrorist groups—in light of the threat terrorism poses to the continent's security and stability and the obstacles it creates for development efforts.
At the UN level, the Secretary of State reviewed Algeria’s contribution to bolstering international counter-terrorism efforts, particularly during its tenure on the Security Council. In this context, he recalled the "Algeria Guiding Principles"—adopted by the Security Council in January 2025—which serve as a reference framework for enhancing international cooperation to combat terrorist financing and address the exploitation of modern technologies for terrorist purposes. He also highlighted the efforts Algeria undertook during its presidency of the Council that same month to drive a more effective international response to this threat.
In the same vein, the Secretary of State pointed to Algeria’s active role in counter-terrorism capacity-building, noting its dynamic participation in the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and the platform it provides for sharing expertise and best practices, as well as for strengthening cooperation in this field. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on ways to intensify cooperation and coordination within the UN framework and to enhance the integration of national, regional, and international efforts, thereby ensuring a more comprehensive and effective response to the rapidly evolving terrorist threat.