Morocco marked a significant milestone on Thursday in Salé with the inauguration of the African Police Cooperation Center, the first facility of its kind on the continent dedicated to the leadership, coordination, and exchange of security information related to the protection of major sporting events. The initiative forms part of the Kingdom’s ongoing preparations to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Conceived as a strategic platform for operational command, inter-agency coordination, and real-time intelligence sharing, the Center is designed to support the comprehensive security arrangements surrounding large-scale sports competitions. Its establishment reflects a robust national institutional partnership involving the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, the General Directorate of National Security, the Royal Gendarmerie, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. This national effort is further strengthened by close international cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) within the framework of the “Stadia” project, dedicated to sports security.
The Center brings together representatives of Morocco’s national security agencies alongside liaison officers from the police services of the 23 countries qualified for AFCON 2025. It also incorporates mobile teams of spotters, working in direct coordination with Moroccan authorities to accompany and monitor supporters of participating national teams within stadiums and host cities.
Beyond its continental dimension, the Center benefits from the participation of representatives of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), as well as experts from Spain and Portugal, within the broader perspective of preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the three countries are set to co-host.
The Center’s core missions include facilitating real-time operational information exchange, supporting risk assessment related to fan movements, coordinating preventive measures and field interventions, and providing strategic guidance and support to Moroccan security forces. Through these functions, the Center seeks to promote a shared security culture grounded in sporting values, fair play, and mutual respect.
A key component of the Center’s mandate is its role in digital and cyber intelligence vigilance, notably through the monitoring of potential cyber threats, including risks linked to terrorism, violent extremism, and information system intrusions. This mission is carried out in close coordination with Interpol’s cybercrime unit, ensuring swift and effective responses and enhanced protection of sports venues and all facilities hosting supporters.
The establishment of the African Police Cooperation Center is fully aligned with the High Royal Directives calling for the strengthening of South–South cooperation, the consolidation of joint security mechanisms with sister African countries, and the positioning of Morocco as a leading actor in sports security and international police cooperation.
