Credit: Interpol.int / United Nations And The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) Cooperate  On Countering Terror And Transnational Organized Crime

By Gary Raynaldo  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the G5 Africa Joint Force signed an agreement this week to utilize increased information sharing to strengthen the battle against emerging terrorist and criminal threats across the region. A surge of  deadly terror and criminal attacks in the Sahel region of Africa has alarmed the international community. The growing number of violent and increasingly sophisticated extremist groups across the Sahel – Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger – has resulted in the death of thousands of individuals, with hundreds of thousands more displaced, according to INTERPOL.  

“INTERPOL is not part of the UN system, but, obviously, it plays a very important part in the fight against terrorism.  And I think any assistance that the countries of the Sahel can get in that part from INTERPOL would be more than welcome. “

-Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

UN Resolution Urges Greater Cooperation With INTERPOL In Countering Terrorism And Organized Crime

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock addressed the UN General Assembly Nov. 26, 2018, which has endorsed increased cooperation with INTERPOL in countering terrorism and transnational organized crime. Credit: (UN Photo/ Loey Philipe) 

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has called for increased cooperation with INTERPOL in countering terrorism and combating transnational organized crime including human trafficking, migrant smuggling and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.  On Nov. 21, 2016, the UN GA adopted Resolution (71/19):  Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).  The Resolution  acknowledged that “INTERPOL has been a key actor since 1923 in enabling and promoting international police cooperation in order to prevent and combat transnational crime, in particular transnational organized crime, through enhanced police cooperation among its member countries as well as in fostering innovation in police and law enforcement matters.”