Morocco and Brazil sign agreement to fight crime and terrorism
- The role of Brazil and Morocco as key players in the Global South
- he reality of crime in Brazil: a challenge for national security
Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of the Moroccan Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) and Directorate General of Territorial Security (DGST), signed a cooperation agreement with the Director General of the Brazilian Federal Police, André Augusto Passos Rodrigues, to strengthen the fight against crime and terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
This memorandum was signed in the framework of Morocco and Brazil's foreign policy in the context of the National Security Open Days, which took place on the sidelines of Passos Rodriguez's visit. Bilateral cooperation seeks to strengthen security cooperation. Both governments want to fight organised crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking and the illegal arms trade.
Operationally, it aims to share experiences in police training and technical development, exchange information and technology, cooperate in investigations and create permanent channels of communication to strengthen regional stability and security. The visit was also an opportunity for the Brazilian Police Chief to learn more about the experience of the Open Doors programme organised annually by the DGSN.
The visit demonstrates the important role played by the Moroccan security services in international security cooperation. Morocco is a reliable partner in addressing security challenges and a regional pillar for bilateral and multilateral police cooperation with countries around the world.
The joining of forces of the two nations, in terms of security, is of great importance, as the two countries are both benchmarks of the Global South and have great influence in decision-making. By working together, they can share information, resources and knowledge to combat security challenges and reduce crime rates.
The role of Brazil and Morocco as key players in the Global South
Brazil and Morocco are two countries that play an important role in the Global South. The South American giant is an important participant in the Mercosur trade bloc and operates development cooperation programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Morocco is an important member of the African Union and operates development cooperation programmes in Africa and the Arab world.
Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Morocco is a major player in regional and international relations. With rapid economic growth, the Alawi nation is a key member of the African Union and has important trade links with Europe and other parts of the world, including fisheries agreements with the EU, and military agreements with the United States.
The Moroccan state has an extensive partnership programme aimed at cooperation with other African and Arab countries. This includes plans in areas such as education, health and infrastructure. This is an important aspect of the Global South, as it helps to reduce poverty and inequality in developing countries.
he reality of crime in Brazil: a challenge for national security
According to the latest data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in 2020, the country recorded a total of 1,444,000 crimes, an increase of 3.4% compared to the previous year. The number of murders, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, in 2023 was more than 45,000, which is an average of 125 homicides per day.
The Brazilian government has implemented several measures to reduce drug trafficking, terrorism and human trafficking. Regarding the drug trade, the government created the Brazilian Drug Control Agency (ABCD), which is responsible for coordinating the fight against drug trafficking. It conducted special operations in rural and urban areas to seize drugs and arrest persons involved in trafficking.
The government implemented a demand reduction programme that included information and education campaigns to prevent drug addiction and treat drug addicts. In the area of terrorism and human trafficking, the Brazilian government created the Counter Terrorism Intelligence Centre (CICT) to collect and analyse information on possible terrorist attacks.
In addition, the country has implemented a national programme to prevent and eliminate human trafficking, which includes special operations to arrest traffickers and free victims of human trafficking. The Brazilian government has signed cooperation agreements with other countries to combat terrorism and human trafficking, including cooperation with the UN and the European Union (EU).