The fourth high-level meeting of Heads of African Counterterrorism and Security Agencies commenced today in Agadir.
Organized within the framework of the “Marrakech Platform,” the two-day event is being co-chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
The “Marrakech Platform,” initiated by Morocco, seeks to foster an integrated and sovereign African approach to counter-terrorism, working in synergy with UN efforts and existing regional mechanisms.
This fourth gathering brings together approximately forty African intelligence and security services. Additionally, some thirty foreign delegations from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Asia are participating as observers, alongside representatives from regional UN institutions. The meeting takes place amidst a tense continental security backdrop, characterized by the persistence and evolution of terrorist threats, particularly in the Sahel region and parts of West Africa’s coastal areas. Previous editions of this meeting were held in Marrakech (2022), Tangier (2023), and Fez (2024).
Organizers emphasize that the increased mobilization for this edition demonstrates the growing establishment and legitimacy of the “Platform.” It has solidified its role as a crucial mechanism for strategic dialogue, the exchange of best practices, and operational coordination on transnational security issues.
Against this backdrop, there is a shared commitment to identifying common priorities, including capacity building, monitoring hybrid threats, and ensuring better coordination between security responses, development initiatives, and the prevention of violent extremism.
MK/Sf/fss/abj/APA