INTERPOL Marrakech Assembly: Morocco’s Global Police Cooperation Efforts Documented

Morocco’s growing involvement in international police cooperation is the central theme of the latest issue of Revue de Police, the publication of the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), which examines the Kingdom’s role in hosting the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Marrakech in November 2025.

The magazine’s 57th issue offers an in-depth look at the international gathering, held from November 24 to 27, 2025, bringing together police leaders, government representatives and international organizations to discuss shared security challenges. Its coverage explores both the diplomatic significance of the event and the operational coordination required to organize a meeting of this scale.

Under the theme of Morocco’s position at the heart of global security diplomacy, the special edition also examines the country’s longstanding relationship with INTERPOL and the development of its international law-enforcement partnerships.

A strategic platform for international police cooperation

The publication places international cooperation at the center of contemporary security policy, particularly as law-enforcement agencies confront cybercrime, terrorism and criminal networks operating across national borders.

Its editorial highlights Marrakech’s successful hosting of the assembly, which returned to Morocco 18 years after the Kingdom welcomed INTERPOL’s 76th General Assembly in 2007. The magazine presents the event as an illustration of Morocco’s capacity to organize major international meetings and facilitate cooperation between security institutions.

The editorial also links this diplomatic engagement to the strategic direction established under His Majesty King Mohammed VI, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships in Morocco’s security approach.

Beyond the event itself, the issue examines how multilateral cooperation can improve the exchange of intelligence, strengthen operational coordination and support collective responses to increasingly complex criminal threats.

Nearly seven decades of cooperation with INTERPOL

A historical section traces Morocco’s relationship with INTERPOL back to 1957, when the country joined the international police organization following the approval of its membership application at the 26th General Assembly in Lisbon.

The magazine highlights the role of the National Central Bureau in Rabat, which connects Moroccan security services with INTERPOL’s General Secretariat and national central bureaus in other member countries.

This structure serves as an important channel for information sharing and coordination in investigations involving suspected criminal activity across borders.

The publication also charts the evolution of Morocco’s participation, from its initial institutional engagement to a more active presence in INTERPOL’s governance structures and international initiatives targeting transnational crime.

Marrakech assembly brings together 179 countries

The special edition’s main coverage revisits the scale of the 93rd General Assembly, which attracted more than 800 delegates representing 179 countries and over 30 international organizations. The gathering included 25 ministers and deputy ministers, alongside 82 police chiefs.

Among the major outcomes highlighted by the magazine was the adoption of INTERPOL’s Strategic Framework for 2026–2030, alongside the renewal of certain governance bodies within the organization.

These developments provided an institutional dimension to the meeting, placing the discussions within a broader effort to establish priorities for international police cooperation in the coming years.

The magazine also examines the diplomatic activity conducted on the sidelines of the assembly. Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, held 43 bilateral meetings with representatives of participating delegations and international and regional organizations.

Two memorandums of understanding, signed with Norway and Ethiopia, sought to strengthen cooperation against organized crime and expand operational, technical and information exchanges.

Moroccan official’s position highlights international recognition

An extended interview with Mohammed Dkhissi, INTERPOL vice-president for Africa and director of Morocco’s central judicial police directorate, examines the responsibilities associated with his election to the organization's African vice-presidency.

Dkhissi was elected for a three-year term during INTERPOL’s 92nd General Assembly in Glasgow in November 2024.

The interview discusses the challenges facing police cooperation across Africa, the significance of Morocco’s role in hosting the Marrakech assembly and the resolutions adopted during the gathering.

His position within INTERPOL’s leadership is presented as an indication of the confidence placed in Moroccan security officials and their experience in international law-enforcement cooperation.

The discussion also provides a continental perspective on the need for stronger coordination between African police services as criminal networks increasingly operate across borders.

Behind the scenes of a major security event

The issue devotes considerable attention to the preparations that made the Marrakech gathering possible. According to the magazine, an organizing committee was established after the conclusion of the Glasgow assembly, working with INTERPOL’s General Secretariat to coordinate the event.

Specialized committees were assigned responsibilities covering security, protocol, accommodation, transport, logistics, communications and medical assistance.

The behind-the-scenes coverage explores how these arrangements were translated into practical operations, from welcoming international delegations to coordinating security measures and providing medical support.

An interview with Mohamed Mchichou, police prefect of Marrakech, offers additional insight into the preparations and implementation of security arrangements on the ground.

This section highlights the organizational demands of hosting a large international gathering where diplomatic protocol, public safety and logistical coordination must operate in parallel.

Cybercrime and transnational threats remain key concerns

The publication’s dedicated sections on INTERPOL and international policing examine the organization's history, mandate and global network, while detailing the role played by Morocco’s National Central Bureau in Rabat.

It also reviews the DGSN’s participation in international operations addressing human trafficking, migrant smuggling and terrorism.

Cybercrime receives particular attention, reflecting the growing importance of digital threats in international security cooperation. The magazine highlights the involvement of specialized Moroccan security units in international frameworks, including INTERPOL’s Global Cybercrime Expert Group.

The coverage points to the need for law-enforcement agencies to strengthen their technical capabilities and develop closer partnerships to investigate crimes that can cross jurisdictions within seconds.

A publication documenting Morocco’s security diplomacy

Through historical analysis, interviews and operational reporting, the 57th issue of Revue de Police documents several dimensions of Morocco’s engagement with international security institutions.

Its account of the Marrakech assembly brings together diplomatic outreach, institutional participation and the practical challenges of coordinating a major multilateral event.

The publication ultimately places the Kingdom’s INTERPOL engagement within a wider international effort to improve police cooperation, share expertise and respond more effectively to criminal threats that extend beyond national borders.