ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – The government has agreed to host a Special Representative of INTERPOL at the African Union complex in Addis Ababa.
The agreement was signed by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atsek-selassie and INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
“Signing this agreement opens a new era of cooperation between Ethiopia as the host country of the African Union and INTERPOL, and is to be welcomed at many levels,” Atsek-selassie said.
With Africa facing a wide range of crime issues including terrorism, child labour, fake medicines, cybercrime, drug trafficking, environmental crime, maritime piracy and stolen vehicles.
The agreement will also build on the capacity building, training and operational support already provided by INTERPOL through its Regional Bureaus in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Recent operations in Africa supported by INTERPOL have led to the rescue of nearly 50 victims of child trafficking, and the seizure of 4.5 tonnes of elephant ivory and rhino horn, some 150 tonnes of counterfeit and illicit medicines and more than $216 million in illegally harvested timber.
Stock said: “The threat posed by terrorism is sadly a daily reality for Africa and in 2016 alone we have already seen deadly attacks across many countries including Burkina Faso, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria and Cameroon.”
The Ethiopian State Minister said: “I know that the already strong relationship between us will continue to develop in supporting national, regional and global security efforts to protect both citizens and visitors to Africa.”
The agreement will also enhance communication and cooperation between the two bodies.
“The threat posed by terrorism is sadly a daily reality for Africa and in 2016 alone we have already seen deadly attacks across many countries including Burkina Faso, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria and Cameroon,” Stock said in a statement.
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