Rabat welcomes first Arab regional strategy meeting for combating terrorism

At the headquarters of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, the first regional meeting to develop a plan for implementing the Arab regional strategy for combating terrorism, which was approved in March 2022 by the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior, picked up steam on Thursday.

At the two-day meeting, strategies for preventing and combating terrorism at the level of the Arab region are to be discussed with an eye toward incorporating them into the counterterrorism strategy’s executive plan.

Additionally, the meeting will discuss operational programs that are relevant to a number of topics, such as the battle against the use of the Internet by terrorists and the defense of crucial infrastructure.

These programs primarily tackle the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, enhancing port and border security, and strengthening international criminal justice cooperation measures.

The development and reinforcement of Member States’ capacities in the area of the fight against terrorism at the national, Arab, and international levels will also be covered at the meeting. 

This will be accomplished by organizing training sessions, workshops, and scientific seminars, as well as by setting up mixed commissions with a focus on the fight against terrorism.

The decision to host this first regional meeting in Morocco is a testament to the country’s efforts among its global allies in terms of combating terrorism, under the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI.

This gathering actually took place a few days after the 31st Arab League Summit, which called for leveraging Moroccan expertise in the fight against terrorism, which was held in Algeria.

The Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas and the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams Mourchidines and Mourchidates in the Kingdom of Morocco was specifically urged to continue to provide their expertise and services at the meeting.

The establishment of the Office of the United Nations Program for the Fight against Terrorism and Training in Africa in Morocco was also hailed by the Arab leaders at their most recent summit.

This office, which was established back in June 2021, will continue to work on the creation and implementation of the adopted programs, which are primarily intended to build and strengthen counterterrorism capacities and skills, particularly in relation to security and border management, investigation, and prosecution, management of penitentiary facilities, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

Representatives from the interior ministries of the 15 Arab nations that make up the League of Arab States will join the meeting, which is hosted by the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior and the United Nations Center for the Fight against Terrorism.