JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Africa's quest to achieve economic development is being stifled by terrorism and conflicts, said a Pan-African Parliament member on Thursday.
Kone Aboubacar Sidiki, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolutions, said some terrorist groups like Boko Haram, al-Shabaab use cyber for their recruitment and capitalize on religion, poverty, ethnic diversity and political ideology to develop.
"With technological advancements, social media platforms are used to to spread negative propaganda, hate speech and false messages undermining the national security and leading to social unrest," he said while briefing the Pan African Parliament (PAP).
"The Sahel, Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa are the most impacted with severe humanitarian and economic consequences," said Sidiki.
He called for political engagement that takes into account evolving global dynamics in support of the security effort.
