LOC15:01
12:01 GMT
ALGIERS, Oct 15 (KUNA) -- The second general assembly of the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) kicked off in the Algerian capital on Monday for discussing means of combating various forms of organized crime, terrorism and violent extremism as well as emerging crimes.
The morning session was attended by Algerian Minister of Interior Noureddine Bedoui, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security Ismail Sharqi, Director General of the Algerian National Security and Chairman of AFRIPOL General Assembly Colonel Mustapha Lahbiri, Commander of the Algerian National Gendarmeri General Ghali Belkecir, INTERPOL (the Internatinal Criminal Police Organization) General Secretary Jurgen Stock and other eminent and leading stakeholders in the security field.
The conferees discussed issues related to police tasks in Africa and boosting coordination among AFRIPOL member states to face challenges threatening African peoples, namely cross-border crimes.
AFRIPOL aims at boosting cooperation among African police forces, through information and expertise exchange.
The organization inauguration meeting was held on December 13, 2015, with attendance of top police officers from more than 40 African states. Its first general assembly was held in May 2017 and Algeria was elected chair for a two-year mandate. (end)
mr.rk