APS : Monday, 15 October 2018
ALGIERS- Afripol, the African Union Mechanism of Police Cooperation and the Interpol will sign a cooperation agreement next January,
announced the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui on Monday in Algiers.
In a statement on the sidelines of the 2nd General Assembly of Afripol, Chergui said Afripol “will sign next January an agreement with Interpol.” The official also hailed the “significant progress” achieved by Afripol in one year.
AFRIPOL created relations with regional and international organizations and provided the African police with training and very advanced technical equipment, which has greatly contributed to fight against crime and violence.
This mechanism which action is centered on the fight against terrorism, the cross-border organized crime and cyber crime, capacities building and training “has the interest of all the parties concerned with security and peace in the world,” said Chergui.
While addressing the Assembly works, Chergui voiced the African Union acknowledgment to President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika, “for his constant supervision of the AU efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.”
Two years ago, the “African leaders assigned this responsibility to the President.”
The Commissioner has also welcomed the “unlimited support of Algeria and its Police to the creation of mechanism, by contributing to the success of its action and hosting its headquarters.”
AFRIPOL is “a key institution that is aware of all the security and socio-economic challenges posed by the cross-border organized crime,” said the official.
The African countries are “faced today with complicated and growing cross-border threats,” such as human trafficking, drug and arms trafficking, terrorism, besides the illegal exploitation of the natural resources.
