Equatorial Guinea assumed the presidency of the Committee of Chiefs of Police of Central Africa (CCPAC) during the 17th meeting of the governing body.
José Ondo Ondo, who assumed the responsibility, highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation through terrorism prevention strategies and growing international nature of crime.
The Minister of National Security, Nicolás Obama Nchama, stressed the importance of military and police cooperation. This is one of the main goals of the Ministry of Defence and Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue as the Second Vice President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Head of Defense and State Security.
Obama Nchama highlighted the significance of the meeting given the proliferation of crime and terrorism in the region with extremist groups like Boko Haram.
Obama Nchama noted recent actions by the government of Equatorial Guinea to fight crime in the region, such as the creation of a committee of experts from Interpol within Equatorial Guinea, cooperation with criminal police, and public announcements of stolen or destroyed Equatorial Guinean passports.
He also praised the strong police cooperation between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
The Secretary General of Interpol, Jürgen Stock, thanked the CCPAC and praised Africa represents the diversities of rapid and extraordinary progress because of the importance leaders place on strengthening the fight against crime.
Stock also stressed the absolute necessity of maintaining security for the progress of Africa in the fight against extremist groups.
The outgoing president of CCPAC, Martin Mbarga, thanked the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for organizing the meeting, and its aim to assess the progress achieved by Central African nations and security challenges in the region.