Morocco has urged African countries to strengthen operational cooperation and build sustainable security partnerships to tackle cross-border threats in the Sahel and Sahara. The call was made at a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and International Organizations in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, emphasized the importance of African ownership, solidarity, and shared responsibility in addressing cross-border security challenges.
The high-level meeting, themed "Towards the Activation of the CONNECT Initiative: Strengthening Operational Coordination Under African Command to Combat the Links Between Crime and Terrorism," brought together African and international partners to discuss ways to strengthen operational cooperation. Farhane stressed that Morocco has made South-South cooperation a cornerstone of its foreign policy, emphasizing the need for African countries to develop their own solutions to regional security challenges. He said that security cannot be imported, but must be nationally owned and African-led.
Farhane outlined three priorities for the CONNECT initiative: ownership, partnership, and cooperation. He called for a shift from national commitments to collective action, from assistance to co-construction, and from coordination to operational trust. The ambassador also stressed that the initiative should serve as a link between existing mechanisms, institutions, and security practitioners, rather than create additional structures without tangible outcomes.
The CONNECT initiative aims to address the growing links between terrorism, separatist movements, and transnational organized crime in the Sahel and Sahara. Farhane emphasized that sustainable security requires more than traditional security measures, advocating a comprehensive approach that places people at the center of policies and prioritizes prevention, institutional capacity building, and international cooperation.
Farhane also called for stronger information-sharing, exchanges of expertise, and coordination among national, regional, and international institutions to improve their ability to anticipate, prevent, and respond to cross-border threats. He stressed that the success of the West Africa and Sahel component of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) CONNECT initiative will ultimately depend on the ability to translate political commitment into operational confidence, cooperation, and concrete results on the ground.
The meeting in Abu Dhabi highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing cross-border security challenges. Morocco's call for stronger African-led cooperation reflects the country's commitment to regional security and stability. The CONNECT initiative is expected to play a key role in strengthening operational coordination among African countries to combat terrorism and organized crime.
The issue of terrorism and organized crime in the Sahel and Sahara region remains a pressing concern for African countries. The region has been plagued by terrorist groups, separatist movements, and transnational organized crime, posing a significant threat to regional stability and security. Morocco's efforts to strengthen African coordination and cooperation are seen as crucial in addressing these challenges and promoting regional security.
Key points
- Morocco urges African countries to strengthen operational cooperation to tackle cross-border threats in the Sahel and Sahara.
- The CONNECT initiative aims to address the growing links between terrorism, separatist movements, and transnational organized crime in the Sahel and Sahara.
- Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and International Organizations in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, emphasizes the importance of African ownership, solidarity, and shared responsibility in addressing cross-border security challenges.
