CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Law enforcement leaders from across Africa gathered in Cape Town from 27 to 29 August for INTERPOL’s African Regional Conference, focusing on strengthening cooperation to fight transnational organized crime. The three-day event brought together 188 senior police officials from 56 countries to coordinate responses to the continent’s most pressing security threats.
South Africa’s Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, said the conference comes at a critical time, with transnational crime posing serious risks to peace, stability, and development across Africa. He added that shared expertise and collaboration offer hope in addressing these challenges.
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, noted that the gathering reflects a shared responsibility among countries to confront complex criminal networks. “Transnational crime knows no borders, and neither can our response,” he said.
INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi described the conference theme – “Leveraging cooperation, innovation, and partnerships to fight transnational organized crime” – as a reflection of the urgency to find collective solutions. INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the conference as a platform for sharing expertise and best practices to enhance safety and security across Africa.
Chaired by INTERPOL Vice President for Africa Mohammed Dkhissi, the meeting covered a wide range of issues including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, environmental crime, and cattle theft, which can finance terrorism.
Cybercrime was a major focus, with the 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report showing that two-thirds of African countries face medium-to-high levels of cybercrime. INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti 2.0, coordinated across 18 countries from June to August 2025, led to 1,209 arrests, nearly 88,000 victims identified, USD 97.4 million recovered, and 11,432 malicious infrastructures dismantled.
Delegates discussed strengthening links between INTERPOL National Central Bureaus and AFRIPOL National Liaison Offices to improve efficiency and avoid duplication. Updates were also given on collaborations with the African Development Bank Group to tackle corruption, financial crime, cyber-enabled fraud, and money laundering.
The conference further explored capacity building, training, and promoting diversity within law enforcement, recognizing that a skilled and inclusive workforce is essential to protect communities effectively.
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