Brazzaville: INTERPOL African conference seeks to avert evolving continental crime

Senior law enforcement officials from 35 countries across Africa gathered on Tuesday in Brazzaville, Congo, for the 23rd INTERPOL African Regional Conference.

175 delegates from Africa as well as four observers from Europe, Asia and other international organizations are attending the conference.

The 23rd #INTERPOL #African Regional Conference has begun in #Brazzaville #Congo pic.twitter.com/3oF7vrOrju

— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) February 8, 2016

For three days police services from participating countries will deliberate on new strategies to combat transnational crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking and cyber crimes, which are gnawing away the fabric of the continent’s security.

The conference will also examine the 2016-18 strategic plan and the organisation’s work for the Africa region.

INTERPOL #African conference to develop strategy against evolving crime threats – https://t.co/Jxgkzl2Ywf pic.twitter.com/baKh8wTyxt

— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) February 8, 2016

“The continent has been vulnerable to crime in the recent years,” said the Secretary General of Interpol, the German Jürgen Stock.

“As Africa continues to build a new future, criminal action ranging from piracy and human trafficking, to narcotics and wildlife seeks to undermine these efforts,” said Mr. Stock.

Transnational crime cannot be countered by the police community in isolation. Read more on INTERPOL's #partnerships: https://t.co/mV5qYZn5IS

— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) February 5, 2016

However, progress is being made, among them the establishment of a technical and scientific laboratory against crime in Sudan, as well as the implementation of a counter-terrorism center in Uganda.

To further support its member countries in Africa, INTERPOL in January signed an agreement to open a Special Representative Office at the African Union in Ethiopia.

This office will complement the activities of the African INTERPOL Regional Bureaus located in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

During the conference, a series of consultations will be held with the delegates as part of the INTERPOL 2020 organizational reform process, to gather input on how the member countries would like to see INTERPOL best meet their evolving policing needs.