Morocco has launched the African Police Cooperation Center in Salé, the first facility of its kind on the continent dedicated to coordinating police operations, officials said.
The move strengthens security management as the country hosts the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and reflects King Mohammed VI’s vision for long-term, institution-based cooperation among African states.
The Kingdom is hosting the tournament in six cities from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18, drawing millions of supporters from across the continent and abroad.
Authorities said the facility anchors a collective security approach aimed at managing risks linked to terrorism, transnational crime, crowd disorder, and cyber threats associated with major sporting events.
Located near the Bouregreg River, the center functions as a joint command platform connecting Moroccan security services with police delegations from participating countries.
The initiative was developed through coordination involving the Interior Ministry, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football, FIFA, and the Foreign Ministry, according to officials involved in the project.
Fourteen African states have signed cooperation protocols under the framework.
These agreements provide for liaison officers to be stationed at the Salé center, alongside field officers deployed in host cities to work with their national supporters in stadiums, hotels, and fan zones.
The facility includes a joint operations room, secure office space for each delegation, and dedicated digital systems that enable real-time information sharing on crowd movement, emerging threats, and persons of interest.
Officials said this structure allows quicker operational decisions during match days and large-scale fan movements.
The center also conducts digital monitoring, including online activity linked to cybercrime and violent extremism, in coordination with a specialized INTERPOL unit supporting the operation.
While activated for AFCON 2025, Moroccan authorities said the center is a permanent platform for continental police cooperation, with future use planned for major international events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
