Strengthening security cooperation in the Sahel-Saharan region featured prominently in talks held on Wednesday in Rabat between Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, and Gabon’s ambassador to the kingdom.
According to a statement from the DGSN, Hammouchi met with Gabonese Ambassador Branly Martial Oupolo to review ways of deepening bilateral security cooperation and to assess the evolving security situation in the region, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara.
Discussions focused on the risks and threats posed by emerging regional crises, including terrorism, transnational crime and illegal migration, and their potential repercussions on both countries. The two sides exchanged views on how to enhance coordination in responding to these challenges, which have intensified amid growing instability across parts of the Sahel.
The meeting helped lay the foundations for a shared strategic vision aimed at building a South–South police cooperation framework. This approach prioritises strengthening cooperation in police training, dismantling illegal migration networks and monitoring and countering terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel-Saharan zone.
The talks with the Gabonese ambassador were part of a broader series of meetings held by Hammouchi the same day with several foreign diplomats accredited to Morocco, reflecting Rabat’s drive to position itself as a regional hub for security cooperation.
Hammouchi also held separate talks with the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Rabat, Alex Pinfield, focusing on advanced security cooperation between the two countries, including border policing, counterterrorism and the fight against transnational crime. In addition, he met Malaysia’s ambassador to Morocco, Shahabudeen Bin Adam, to explore mechanisms for strengthening bilateral security ties through technical assistance and operational cooperation.
The DGSN said these meetings underscore Morocco’s commitment to developing sustainable security partnerships with brotherly and friendly countries, particularly in addressing emerging criminal and terrorist threats. They also reflect the determination of Morocco’s security services to enhance coordination, expand information-sharing channels and support specialised training programmes in response to regional and international security challenges.
