Morocco’s Ambassador Permanent Representative in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, highlighted on May 13, the Kingdom’s “holistic and integrated” strategy to counter terrorism, in accordance with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Speaking on the occasion of the 33rd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), Farhane explained that this strategy is based on a three-pillar approach, namely the strengthening of internal security, the fight against poverty and the reform of the religious field.
“The Kingdom has strengthened its legal arsenal through the adoption of laws relating to countering terrorism, money laundering, and terrorism financing. Likewise, Morocco has adopted, as part of the reform of the religious field, a series of measures aimed at combating different forms of extremism and radicalization, and promoting the values of moderation and tolerance enshrined by Islam”, explained the official.
Referring to Morocco’s contribution to global counter-terrorism action, Farhane revealed that the Kingdom has co-chaired, since 2016, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), noting that Morocco has assumed this function for three consecutive mandates, jointly with the Netherlands during the period from 2015 to 2019, with Canada between 2019 and 2022, and with the European Union (EU) since September 2022.
In the same context, the Moroccan diplomat indicated that Morocco has hosted in Rabat, since 2021, the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Programme Office for Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa, which offers training on countering terrorism, border security management, the prevention of radicalization, and the promotion of human rights.
Given this substantial contribution to global efforts aimed at combating transnational organized crime, Morocco was unanimously elected to host the 93rd session of the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) General Assembly in 2025, during the 91st session held in Vienna last December, recalled Farhane, reaffirming the kingdom’s commitment to the full implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its additional protocols.
“In addition to the international commitments of States, Morocco is convinced that the conclusion of bilateral and regional agreements gives additional impetus to global efforts to combat transnational organized crime. This is why Morocco has signed more than 90 bilateral judicial cooperation agreements in criminal matters with several States from different geographical regions”, revealed the Moroccan official.
At the continental level, Morocco, as a member of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), has contributed substantially to the development of collective responses to global and regional issues, including terrorism, climate change, and food security, in application of the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Africa, he further emphasized.
In terms of migration, Farhane affirmed that as part of its management of migratory flows, Morocco has adopted, since the last decade, the “National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum”, which has enabled thousands of immigrants to access the labor market and vocational training, and public school for their children, as well as the right to create associations and cooperatives and to benefit from public health care services.
Within the framework of the same strategy, Morocco’s efforts on the ground enabled the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) in 2023 to put an end to the criminal activities of 121 networks, while preventing attempts at illegal immigration by 28,863 individuals, including 18,820 foreign nationals, stated the diplomat, adding that these operations also allowed the arrest of 594 people, the seizure of 707 false documents, 215 boats, and 31 vehicles.
On a final note, Farhe reiterated the Kingdom’s conviction that the fight against organized crime can only be carried out through continued awareness, concerted strategies, coordinated approaches, and actions oriented towards the prevention and fight against international organized crime, stressing that the principle of shared responsibility should be the cornerstone of any concrete action based on a common, realistic, sustainable and constructive vision excluding any ideological or political plans.
