Agadir, Morocco – The fourth high-level African counter-terrorism summit officially opened Tuesday in the Moroccan coastal city of Agadir, bringing together heads of African intelligence and security services under the joint leadership of the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Nations Office for Counter-Te
The two-day summit, held under the framework of the “Marrakech Platform,” aims to strengthen African-led responses to the growing threat of terrorism on the continent. Established through Morocco’s initiative, the platform promotes a sovereign, integrated, and continent-wide approach to counter-terrorism, in alignment with UN strategies and re
Attending this year’s meeting are over 40 African counter-terrorism and security agencies.
In addition, around 30 delegations from outside the continent—including representatives from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Asia—are participating as observers. Key UN regional bodies are also in attendance, reflecting broad international interest in bolstering Africa’s security framework.
The summit convenes against a backdrop of worsening security conditions in several African regions, particularly the Sahel and coastal West Africa. These areas continue to face rising threats from terrorist organizations, hybrid militant groups, and the spread of violent extremism. The conference follows earlier editions in Marrakech (2022), Tangier (2023), and Fez (2024), each contributing to the development of a strategic and operational arc
Organizers say the growing participation at the Agadir summit underscores the legitimacy and traction of the Marrakech Platform as a critical vehicle for strategic coordination, the exchange of best practices, and operational synergy in the fight against transnational terrorism.
Discussions over the two-day meeting focus on identifying shared priorities across the continent, including enhancing counter-terror capacity, addressing hybrid and evolving threats, and improving the link between security responses, socio-economic development, and the prevention of violent extremism.
