In response to the rise in terrorism in West Africa, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in partnership with the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for West Africa trained police chiefs in counter terrorism strategies, with a focus on improving police-to-police cooperation in the region.

‘Terrorists are organised and police should be too’, says Martin Ewi, ISS Senior Researcher. ‘This workshop was the first opportunity for leaders of police organisations in West Africa to share experiences and develop better strategies for responding to terror attacks both nationally and regionally’.

Chiefs of police, inspector-generals and heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in April this year for a five-day workshop sponsored by the United States Government. Representatives from all 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as Mauritania, discussed terror cases from Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. Training centred on investigative techniques, collaboration among intelligence agencies, suppressing terrorist financing and improving counter-terrorism strategies in the region. 

Terrorists are organised and police should be too

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The workshop did more than build skills for tackling terrorism cases. Participants said it enabled relationships to be built among peers that will forge stronger cooperation in future.

‘Communication is key to police and intelligence officials being able to work together productively’, says Ewi. The workshop provided a rare opportunity – away from the strictures of official government channels – to build the bridges that allow practical cooperation among police institutions.

The training also provided a platform to further develop coordination between the West African Police Chiefs Committee and the Central African Police Chiefs Committee, demonstrating the ISS’ ability to facilitate networks of African counter-terrorism practitioners at the regional and continental level. 

The Abidjan workshop is just one of several initiatives by the ISS to strengthen counter-terrorism skills and strategies in West Africa and the Sahel. Among these is a partnership with ECOWAS to help implement its counter-terrorism strategy.

Credit link:  https://www.issafrica.org/iss-spotlight/uniting-against-terrorism-strengthening-the-polices-role-in-west-africa

The article was first published by The Institute for Security Studies (http://www.issafrica.org) and is republished with permission  granted to www.oasesnews.com