High Confidence in Morocco Recognized with the Election of its Candidate as Interpol Africa’s Vice President

8th November 2024

2 minutes read

High Confidence in Morocco Recognized with the Election of its Candidate as Interpol Africa’s Vice President

The election of Mohammed Dkhissi as Vice President of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for the African continent is a recognition of Moroccan expertise and its ability to maintain stability at both the regional and international levels.

Morocco’s candidate won the position of Vice President for Interpol Africa by a landslide, acknowledging Morocco’s role in maintaining peace and security and the capacity of its security services to address organized crime and terrorism.

The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) nominated Mohammed Dkhissi, the Director of Judicial Police and head of Interpol Rabat’s Central National Bureau, a figure widely recognized for his security expertise.

In a statement, the DGSN announced that “the representative of the Kingdom of Morocco was elected by the majority of delegates from 96 member countries, with a significant lead over other candidates, in the vote held during Interpol‘s 92nd General Assembly, currently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 4 to 7, 2024.”

Founded in 1923, Interpol is an international criminal police organization whose primary goal is to enhance national capabilities and facilitate the exchange of information between the security services of 196 member states, to prevent and combat cross-border crimes and security threats.

This appointment highlights the trust placed in Morocco at both continental and international levels, especially the growing confidence in its security institutions’ ability to uphold stability, and the competence of its officials to tackle major challenges. Notably, several Moroccan security officials have received honors, such as Abdellatif Hammouchi, the DGSN Director General, from countries like Spain and France, which reinforces international confidence in Moroccan expertise.

Morocco pursued the candidacy for Interpol‘s African Vice Presidency driven by the ambitious desire to contribute to the development of African policing structures, equipped with a steadfast commitment to South-South security cooperation and sharing its experiences with security agencies in its continental vicinity.

This candidacy and subsequent election align with the royal directives of King Mohammed VI, who has prioritized South-South cooperation as a strategic choice for Morocco and its African partners. This pragmatic vision focuses on strengthening Morocco’s ties with African countries on all levels, including security.

Morocco’s candidacy was founded on the essential principle that investing in African police human resources, developing public security facilities, and enhancing security cooperation across Africa is vital to eradicating the roots of illegal migration and human trafficking, and to prevent their links with transnational organized crime.

Following this achievement, Morocco seeks to coordinate efforts with the national central bureaus in African and other countries worldwide to ensure swift and effective responses to terrorist threats posed by regional extremist groups. Rabat is also committed to combating emerging risks, such as the misuse of artificial intelligence and modern technologies by organized crime groups.

The DGSN Director General led the Moroccan delegation at the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland, participating in multilateral discussions and bilateral meetings focused on strengthening international security cooperation and supporting Morocco’s bid for Interpol‘s African Vice Presidency.