Morocco elected vice-president of Interpol for Africa

On Thursday, Morocco was overwhelmingly elected as Vice-President for Africa in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) during the 92nd General Assembly held in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 4 to 7, 2024.

Morocco’s representative garnered the support of 96 member states, a clear margin over other candidates, reflecting the international community’s appreciation for Morocco’s ongoing efforts to enhance regional and global security.

This recognition underscores the country’s leadership in strengthening South-South security cooperation.

A statement from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) emphasized that Morocco’s election as Interpol Vice-President for Africa acknowledges its commitment to regional stability and its pioneering role in fostering security partnerships across Africa.

“The election of Morocco’s representative with a substantial majority, supported by 96 states, reaffirms our country’s contributions to maintaining regional and international stability,” the DGSN statement read.

Morocco’s candidacy for the Interpol Executive Committee post was driven by a commitment to bolstering the capabilities of African police structures.

With a focus on enhancing South-South cooperation, Morocco seeks to exchange expertise and experiences with security services across the continent.

The Moroccan bid aligns with royal directives positioning South-South cooperation as a strategic priority.

This pragmatic approach aims to strengthen Morocco’s relations with African countries at all levels, including security collaboration.

At the heart of Morocco’s proposal is the belief that investing in police human resources, improving public safety infrastructure, and fostering security partnerships across Africa is crucial.

This framework aims to identify and disrupt the sources of human trafficking and illegal migration networks that often intersect with transnational organized crime.

Following the election, Morocco plans to coordinate efforts with national central bureaus in Africa and globally to swiftly address emerging security threats.

These include regional terrorist activity, unconventional risks, and the misuse of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies by criminal groups.

The DGSN announced that the newly elected Vice-President is Mohamed Al-Dakhisi, Director of the Judicial Police and head of the Central Bureau – Interpol Rabat.

Abdellatif Hamouchi, the Director-General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, led Morocco’s delegation at the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow.

He participated in bilateral and multilateral discussions focused on enhancing international security cooperation, strengthening joint policing, and promoting Morocco’s successful candidacy.

Founded in 1923, Interpol facilitates international police cooperation among its 196 member states, aiming to prevent and combat crime across borders.