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Rabat – Morocco inaugurated today the African Police Cooperation Center in Sale, a first-of-its-kind structure on the continent dedicated to leadership, coordination, and the exchange of security information linked to the safeguarding of major sporting events.
The launch forms part of the country’s ongoing preparations to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The center results from close national coordination involving the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Directorate of National Security, the Royal Gendarmerie, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
It also reflects international cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) through the “Stadia” project on sports security.
The facility brings together representatives of Morocco’s security services alongside liaison officers from the 23 countries qualified for AFCON 2025.
Mobile teams of “spotters” are also deployed, working in direct coordination with Moroccan authorities to accompany and monitor supporters of their respective national teams in stadiums and host cities.
Representatives of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) are taking part in the initiative, as are participants from Spain and Portugal, in the context of preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
The center’s core missions include facilitating real-time operational information sharing, supporting risk assessments related to crowds, coordinating preventive measures and field interventions, and providing guidance and support to Moroccan security forces.
It also seeks to foster a shared security culture rooted in sporting values and fair play.
A central pillar of the center’s work focuses on digital intelligence and vigilance, particularly the monitoring of potential cyber threats.
These include risks linked to terrorism, extremism, and data breaches, carried out in coordination with Interpol’s cybercrime unit to ensure rapid and effective responses and the protection of sports venues and related infrastructure.
The establishment of the center aligns with Morocco’s strategy, calling for stronger South-South cooperation and the consolidation of joint security mechanisms with African partners, positioning Morocco as a regional hub for sports security coordination ahead of major continental and global events.
