The Interpol African Regional Conference has closed with a series of recommendations aimed at bolstering international police cooperation and enhancing the continent’s capacity to fight transnational organized crime and terrorism.
The three-day meeting (27–29 August) brought together police leaders from across Africa to discuss pressing security challenges, including cybercrime, terrorism, financial crime, and environmental threats.
Delegates endorsed key recommendations such as:
- Harnessing Interpol’s global expertise to combat ransomware, online scams, and digital extortion
- Expanding intelligence and data exchange to identify high-value targets and disrupt networks
- Strengthening border controls with regional and international partners to stem illicit trade and terrorism
- Promoting the use of NEXUS, Interpol’s new secure case messaging platform, for real-time operational coordination
- Expanding capacity building and training to strengthen operational capabilities and professional standards
The conference also created a new Interpol African Committee to set regional priorities and advise on crime prevention strategies.
Interpol’s Vice President for Africa and Conference Chair, Mohammed Dkhissi, stressed the importance of access to policing tools at all levels.
“The region must commit to ensuring that frontline officers have access to, and make maximum use of, Interpol’s policing capabilities. Our shared goal is a safer Africa, which serves as a fundamental building block for global security, and we must work together to achieve this vision,” he said.
Africa remains central to Interpol’s global operations, representing nearly one third of its membership and hosting four of six regional bureaus — in Abidjan, Harare, Nairobi, and Yaoundé.
The region has steadily increased its contributions to global policing databases: in 2024, African countries boosted police records shared by 7% compared to 2023, while positive query results on African data rose by nearly 60%, reflecting its growing role in international investigations.