AU and INTERPOL pledge stronger cooperation to combat transnational crime

Addis Ababa, July 4, 2025 (FMC) — The African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in the fight against transnational crime and to strengthen the rule of law across the continent.

The pledge was made during a high-level meeting today between AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and INTERPOL President Dr. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

According to a statement from the African Union, the two leaders emphasized the need for closer collaboration between INTERPOL and the AU, particularly through AFRIPOL — the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation — as a key platform for information sharing, joint operations, and capacity building in law enforcement.

Chairperson Youssouf acknowledged INTERPOL’s vital role in promoting global security and international policing standards, and extended his gratitude to Dr. Al-Raisi for his steadfast support to AFRIPOL and to African security institutions more broadly.

The meeting marked a continued effort by both institutions to address evolving threats and ensure effective coordination in tackling organized crime, terrorism, and cross-border criminal networks in Africa.