INTERPOL opens special representative office at the African Union

In the wake of an agreement signed by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atske-selassie and INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL is preparing to launch a special representative office at the African Union.

“Signing this agreement opens a new era of cooperation between Ethiopia as the host country of the African Union and INTERPOL, and is to be welcomed at many levels,” Atske-selassie said. “I know that the already strong relationship between us will continue to develop in supporting national, regional and global security efforts to protect both citizens and visitors to Africa.”

With the wide range of dangerous threats facing Africa today, the additional support provided by the special representative office will be invaluable in ensuring the safety of the people of Ethiopia and beyond.

“The threat posed by terrorism is sadly a daily reality for Africa and in 2016 alone we have already seen deadly attacks across many countries including Burkina Faso, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria and Cameroon,” Secretary General Stock said. “Combining INTERPOL’s worldwide law enforcement network with the African Union’s expertise and infrastructure will create a strong partnership in enhancing security both within and beyond Africa. INTERPOL’s special representative office will build on the strength of our regional bureaus and national central breaus across Africa as we unite our efforts against terrorism and other forms of transnational crime.”