Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit held a meeting today in Rabat with German Minister of Interior and Territorial Administration Nancy Faeser to discuss issues of common interest and explore ways to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement, the Ministry of Interior stated that the meeting provided an opportunity for the two ministers to exchange views on matters related to counterterrorism, extremism, and illegal migration.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the interior ministries of both countries.
During the meeting, both sides emphasized the need to enhance the dynamics of information and expertise exchange to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in security cooperation between the two countries.
The two parties also committed to intensifying operational cooperation to combat various forms of transnational crime in order to mitigate security risks to citizens of both countries.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a statement of intent between the two interior ministries, aiming to enhance cooperation in the fields of security, migration, civil protection, and combating cross-border crime in all its forms, based on equality, reciprocity, mutual benefit, and mutual respect.
The meeting comes a few months after Morocco’s Director General of Territorial Surveillance Abdellatif Hammouchi received the Director of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Thomas Haldenwang, and a delegation of German security officials visiting Rabat.
Diplomatic ties between Germany and Morocco have been on the mend following a year-long period of tension.
In May 2021, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Berlin after Germany’s “antagonistic” activism against Rabat’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The new German government, however, has worked to resolve the tensions with Morocco and expressed support for the country’s autonomy plan as a viable solution in the UN-led political process for the Western Sahara region.
Following Germany’s change of stance, Morocco reestablished cooperation between the two countries.
In October 2022, the two countries agreed to expand security cooperation to include organized crime, terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, and fraud.
Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) had said then that through this cooperation, the two countries would exchange expertise and best practices relating to the detection and identification of extremism and terrorist organizations.
In addition, the two countries set up a joint committee to oversee the implementation of this planned cooperation. The committee includes the International Police Cooperation Center at the DGSN and liaison offices assigned to the Germany Embassy in Rabat.
Morocco’s counterterrorism efforts are regularly lauded on the global stage. In annual reports published by the US State Department, Morocco’s counterterrorism record is described as “comprehensive” and effective in mitigating extremist threats in the region.
Read Also: DGSN Director Hammouchi Receives German Security Official in Morocco
