Morocco has called for stronger African coordination to face crime and terrorism at a high-level meeting in Abu Dhabi. The call was made by Morocco's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhan. He emphasized the need to transform political commitments into concrete cooperation on the ground, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara regions.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Criminal Justice. It was organized as part of the "Connect" initiative, which aims to enhance operational cooperation to address the nexus between crime and terrorism. The initiative is led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Ambassador Farhan stressed that sustainable security requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes human well-being and is based on prevention, cooperation, and trust-building. He also highlighted the need to ensure that African countries are engaged in and own the objectives and mechanisms of the "Connect" initiative.
The Ambassador warned of the growing links between terrorist groups, separatist movements, and organized crime networks in the Sahel and Sahara regions. He called for an integrated approach that includes information-sharing, capacity-building, and enhanced coordination between national, regional, and international institutions.
The meeting brought together high-level officials, including ambassadors from Morocco, Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Ghana, as well as representatives from the European Union, Japan, and Italy. The discussions focused on ways to move the West Africa and Sahel component of the "Connect" initiative from political commitments to practical implementation.
Morocco's call for stronger African coordination to face crime and terrorism reflects the country's commitment to regional and international cooperation on security issues. The country has been actively engaged in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime.
The "Connect" initiative aims to support countries in West Africa and the Sahel in their efforts to address the nexus between crime and terrorism. The initiative seeks to enhance operational cooperation and coordination between national, regional, and international institutions to prevent and combat crime and terrorism.
Key points
- Morocco calls for stronger African coordination to face crime and terrorism.
- The "Connect" initiative aims to enhance operational cooperation to address the nexus between crime and terrorism.
- Morocco emphasizes the need to transform political commitments into concrete cooperation on the ground.
