Addis Ababa, 9 December 2013: The First Meeting of African Regional Counter-Terrorism Coordinators opened on Friday, 6 December 2013, in Addis Ababa under the theme: Enhancing Counter-Terrorism Coordination at the Regional and Continental Levels. The meeting has brought together counter-terrorism coordinators from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), experts, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) and the AU Commission. 

In his opening remarks, Dr Tarek A. Sharif, Head of the Defence and Security Division of the Peace and Security Department, noted that the continent, and indeed the world at large, is faced with highly mobile, flexible, interconnected and invisible terrorist groups that are preoccupied with circumventing the various counter-measures by the various security agencies. He emphasized that this calls for national governments to strengthen methods of work and tighten cooperation and coordination.

The meeting is part of the efforts to operationalize the framework to improve regional and continental coordination and complementarity, information sharing, and to strengthen experience sharing on the development and implementation of regional strategies for the prevention and combating of terrorism.  It will, therefore, enable exchange of views on how to strengthen regional and continental coordination and interagency cooperation.

The meeting will come up with concrete steps to strengthen interregional cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime.

 

COMMENTS