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Marrakech – Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance Abdellatif Hammouchi received Alexandre Zouev, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), during a working visit to Rabat on Monday.
The meeting addressed emerging challenges related to rising terrorist risks across multiple global tension zones. Both officials discussed threats in the Sahel and Sahara regions, the Horn of Africa, Syria, and Afghanistan during their talks at the DGSN-DGST headquarters.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and mutual assistance between Morocco and the UN counter-terrorism office. Both parties examined mechanisms for preventing violent extremism and developing coordinated responses to terrorist activities.
Zouev expressed interest in learning about Morocco’s security experience in combating terrorism. He described the Moroccan approach as important and necessary for strengthening international cooperation against terrorist organizations.
The talks also covered coordination of anti-terrorism initiatives at regional and international levels. Both officials discussed expanding these initiatives to include cooperation in securing major sporting events against terrorist risks and threats.
The UN official noted that Morocco’s counter-terrorism experience could help deprive terrorist organizations of safe havens, rear bases, funding sources, and recruitment networks.
Morocco has developed a robust and multifaceted counterterrorism architecture, anchored by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), which operates under the umbrella of the DGST.
This strategic posture has been reinforced by a long record of operational success. According to Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Morocco has dismantled over 200 terrorist cells since 2002, underscoring the country’s sustained vigilance against extremist threats.
But Morocco’s counterterrorism strategy goes far beyond domestic operations: it relies heavily on international cooperation – particularly with European partners such as Spain and France.
In strategic terms, Morocco acts as a frontline state bridging North Africa and Europe. Its geographic location, combined with strong security institutions and deep intelligence partnerships, makes it a critical actor in the global fight against violent extremism and jihadist networks.
Security partnerships grow stronger
The meeting comes ahead of Morocco hosting the first International Conference dedicated to African victims of terrorism on December 2-3 in Rabat. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes this unprecedented event with support from the UNOCT.
The conference will bring together government representatives from African countries, international organizations, terrorism victim associations, researchers, and experts. Discussions will focus on survivors’ roles in prevention and resilience initiatives through their testimonies and participation in rebuilding affected communities.
Participants will address terrorism’s human consequences and legal, institutional, and socio-economic challenges related to victim support. The event forms part of Morocco’s partnership with UNOCT, which established its Africa Program Office in Rabat as a continental reference platform.
The coordination meeting also follows Morocco’s successful hosting of INTERPOL’s 93rd General Assembly in Marrakech from November 24-27. Hammouchi described the assembly as successful at all levels, with exceptional participation from member states and international organizations.
The four-day conference attracted over 800 delegates from 179 countries, including 82 police chiefs. The assembly focused on identifying and disrupting transnational organized crime networks and dismantling transnational scam centers.
INTERPOL launched two new capabilities during the assembly. Nexus, a web-based messaging platform using artificial intelligence, helps structure police information delivery. AVA, the first AI virtual assistant for law enforcement, operates within INTERPOL’s protected cloud environment to process complex material and provide actionable insights.
The assembly also elected Lucas Philippe as the new INTERPOL president, replacing Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi. Hammouchi hailed Al-Raisi’s leadership during his tenure and expressed commitment to cooperating with the new president.
According to the DGSN-DGST statement, Monday’s meeting reflects Morocco’s growing importance as a reliable partner in international anti-terrorism efforts.
The discussions demonstrate the country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral security cooperation mechanisms, it concluded.
