Setting Up UNOCT Program Office in Morocco, ‘Natural Step’ in Reinforcing Its Counter-Terrorism Capacity in Africa – UN Official
PERSISMA, Rabat – The establishment in Morocco of a Program Office for Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) is a “natural step” in reinforcing the kingdom’s counter-terrorism capacity in Africa, said, Tuesday, UNOCT Under-Secretary-General, Vladimir Voronkov.
It is a “historic event” and a “logical” step forward, given Morocco’s “leadership” in the UN counter-terrorism efforts, the UN official said during the signing, via videoconference, of a Headquarters Agreement for the establishment in Morocco of the UNOCT Program Office.
The agreement was inked, on the Moroccan side, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita.
The UNOCT office, the first of its kind in Africa, will provide training in counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border security management, prevention of the presence of radicals, and human rights in the fight against terrorism, the UN official said.
According to Voronkov, this new center is a “very innovative” structure that will help neighboring countries and African States to upgrade their counter-terrorism activities, making them more efficient.
The office will be in charge of coordinating counter-terrorism activities in the region, Voronkov noted, highlighting the geographical importance of sub-Saharan Africa, which, he added, is also a “source of concern due to the very rapid spread of terrorism.”
To counter this development, “We need making an extra effort to be more effective, better coordinated and more results-oriented,” he concluded.
