Morocco and the United Arab Emirates are intensifying their security and intelligence coordination to confront the growing terrorist threats in the Sahel region. On Tuesday in Rabat, the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, held talks with the Head of the UAE’s National Intelligence Service, Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, who is leading a high-level security delegation on a working visit aimed at enhancing bilateral security cooperation.
A statement issued by the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance indicated that the discussions focused on developing mechanisms of cooperation and mutual assistance, and expanding the scope and levels of coordination and security partnerships, especially in light of increasing regional security threats.
According to the same source, the meeting served as an opportunity to explore ways of strengthening operational cooperation and security coordination between the two sides, and to reinforce mechanisms for the exchange of information to confront various challenges and threats, particularly terrorist risks in hotspots across the African continent.
The discussions also included a thorough assessment of the escalating security challenges across the continent, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara regions, which have become hubs for armed terrorist groups. This situation, the statement added, necessitates enhanced joint security action and intensified bilateral efforts to counter the growing threat.
The statement noted that both parties emphasized the seriousness of the rising terrorist activity in the Sahel, which now poses a threat not only to neighboring countries but has become a real concern for regional and global peace and security.
It added that the meeting reflects the shared desire of Moroccan and Emirati security agencies to establish a model of bilateral security cooperation based on trust and continuous coordination in the face of shared challenges within a region marked by instability.
The source also highlighted the two countries' commitment to developing an advanced security partnership based on the exchange of expertise and intelligence, and on proactive responses to emerging threats, especially amid the rise in cross-border terrorist activity.
The Emirati security delegation’s visit is part of a broader dynamic of cooperation between Rabat and Abu Dhabi, encompassing various areas of security collaboration, including counterterrorism, organized crime, and cyber threats.
According to several observers, this high-level security meeting reflects the strong alignment between Moroccan and Emirati perspectives on security challenges in Africa, as well as their determination to closely coordinate in order to shield their regional sphere from transnational threats.
The statement further stressed that intelligence sharing between the two countries constitutes a cornerstone of this cooperation, enhancing their joint capabilities to effectively respond to the expanding terrorist risks in the Sahel.
Observers believe that this kind of bilateral cooperation strengthens stabilization efforts in the Sahel and lays a solid foundation for broader regional security alliances capable of addressing complex and interlinked threats.
