INTERPOL African conference ends with call for greater data exchange

COTONOU, Benin - INTERPOL’s African Regional Conference closed with a series of recommendations to increase information sharing and operational activity to combat transnational crime and terrorism.

Addressing the current and evolving challenges facing Africa, delegates discussed a range of law enforcement issues including terrorism, cybercrime, financial crime and corruption as well as human trafficking and maritime piracy.

Key measures for African member countries approved by the conference include:

•  Increasing the use of INTERPOL’s global network, I-24/7 and other capabilities, to share information on transnational financial crime cases
•  Designing and developing a regional coordination framework to enhance the interoperability of the cyber law enforcement community, and strengthen cooperation for joint operations against cybercrime
•  Expanding access to INTERPOL’s network beyond the National Central Bureaus (NCBs) to better support African Union programmes.

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INTERPOL’s Vice President for Africa and Conference Chair, Garba Baba Umar said the meeting provided member countries with the opportunity to collectively identify ways of improving and advancing security across the region.

“To tackle transnational crimes more effectively, the African region needs to make greater use of INTERPOL’s network and capabilities.

Delegates also supported a recommendation for NCBs to actively and collectively support INTERPOL’s training and capacity building initiatives through the Organization’s Virtual Academy and Global Academy Network.

Some 120 senior police officials from 29 countries attended the event. The 26th INTERPOL African Regional Conference will be held in Angola.