CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Cooperation, innovation and strengthening partnerships to combat the evolving threats posed by transnational organized crime is the focus of INTERPOL’s African Regional Conference.
The three-day (27 – 29 August) meeting in Cape Town, brings together some 188 senior police leaders from 56 countries to provide a unified and coordinated approach to tackling the region's most pressing security challenges.
Professor Firoz Cachalia, South Africa’s Acting Minister of Police, said:
“This Conference convenes at a critical juncture. Transnational organised crime remains one of the most serious threats to peace, stability, and development across Africa and beyond.
“The task before us is daunting, but it is also inspiring. Our collective resolve, our shared expertise, and our commitment to cooperation give us reason to be hopeful. On behalf of South Africa, I wish to reaffirm our commitment to the values and objectives of INTERPOL and to the spirit of African and international solidarity.”
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, said:
“We gather today not merely as representatives of our respective countries, but as partners bound by a shared responsibility, to confront the complex and evolving challenges of transnational crime that undermine peace, prosperity and the rule of law across our beloved continent. Transnational crime knows no borders and our response cannot be confined by borders either.”
INTERPOL President, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, said:
“The theme of this conference ‘Leveraging cooperation, innovation, and partnerships to fight transnational organized crime,’ reflects the urgent challenges we face, but more importantly, it signals our shared determination to find solutions together.
“The African Regional Conference is a testament to the enduring spirit of partnership that defines INTERPOL’s work on the continent.”
Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL said:
“The African Regional Conference is a critical platform for law enforcement to share expertise, best practices and resources in the fight against transnational organized crime.
“By listening to what the region needs and working closely with our members, we are making sure INTERPOL does more than just bring people together - we're helping to make a bigger impact on Africa's safety and security.”
Chaired by INTERPOL’s Vice President for Africa Mohammed Dkhissi, the conference will address a range of regional criminal activity, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, environmental security, and cattle theft which can be used to generate terrorism financing.
Cybercrime
According to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, two-thirds of African member countries reported cyber-related crimes accounting for a medium-to-high share of all crimes.
To tackle this growing threat, the recent INTERPOL-coordinated Operation Serengeti 2.0 involving 18 African countries resulted in the arrest of 1,209 cybercriminals who had targeted nearly 88,000 victims.
The three-month (June – August 2025) crackdown also recovered USD 97.4 million and dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures.
Strengthening cooperation
With partnerships a key factor in combating regional crime, building on the 2019 cooperation agreement, a new set of guidelines for developing stronger links between INTERPOL National Central Bureaus and AFRIPOL National Liaison Offices will be presented, aimed at maximising resources, streamlining efforts and avoiding duplication.
Delegates will also be updated on the progress made since the signing of an agreement between INTERPOL and the African Development Bank Group for greater cooperation to combat corruption, financial crime, cyber-enabled fraud and money laundering.
The conference will also address capacity building, training and increasing diversity within law enforcement agencies, recognizing the importance of a skilled and inclusive workforce to more effectively combat crime and protect the communities they serve.
