DR ‹ › In a landmark move for the continent, Morocco has launched the African Police Cooperation Center in Salé, setting the stage for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This pioneering facility is dedicated to the management, coordination, and exchange of information essential for securing major sporting events. The center's establishment is the fruit of a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), the Royal Gendarmerie, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). It also receives backing from Interpol through the «Stadia» project, which focuses on the security of sporting events. This innovative entity unites representatives from Morocco's security services and liaison officers from the 23 nations qualified for AFCON 2025. Additionally, mobile observer teams, known as «spotters», are deployed to assist fans at stadiums and in host cities, working closely with local authorities. The center also includes representatives from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), FIFA, as well as participants from Spain and Portugal, in preparation for the 2030 World Cup. The center's core mission is the real-time exchange of operational information, evaluating risks associated with fans, coordinating preventive measures and interventions on the ground, and supporting security forces. Moreover, the initiative incorporates a digital vigilance aspect aimed at detecting cyber threats, in collaboration with Interpol's cybercrime unit.
