A new eleven-week counter-terrorism training program for security officers from five African nations – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Nigeria – commenced in Rabat on Monday.
Organized by the United Nations Permanent Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), based in the Moroccan capital since 2023, this third edition of the program welcomes 22 participants for 450 hours of instruction combining theory and practice. The aim is to significantly enhance the officers’ technical skills in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
Carlos Monteiro Reis, head of the UNOCT office, officially launched the program, commending the contributions of Moroccan institutions (Ministry of the Interior, National Police (DGSN), Royal Gendarmerie) and international partners like the US FBI. The training is funded by significant contributions from Morocco and Canada, with additional support from China, Italy, and Portugal.
Upon completion, participants will earn a master’s degree from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane. The opening ceremony was attended by diplomats and international representatives in Rabat. The UN views the training center in Morocco as a crucial hub for counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
MK/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA