Construction of CEN-SAD regional anti-terrorism center in Cairo completed

CAIRO – 24 June 2018: Egypt finished constructing the regional Sahel-Saharan Anti-Terrorism Center in Cairo, as part of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s vow to combat terrorism that has expanded in the country since 2013.

In a joint press conference on May 25, 2017, President Sisi and President Alpha Conde of Guinea reaffirmed their firmness to set up a regional center to combat terrorism. Guinea is one of the subsequent members of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD).


Egypt has finished constructing the Sahel-Saharan Anti-Terrorism Center in Cairo – Press photo

Sisi, during the conference, expressed his optimism that this center shall contribute positively to enhancing regional cooperation in countering terrorism.

An Egyptian delegation of the Defense Ministry participated in the 7th Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Defense of the CEN-SAD Member States that was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on June 20-22.

The meeting discussed means of fostering cooperation in combating terrorism via exchanging expertise and support in defense and security fields.

Assistant Defense Minister Mohamed el Keshki gave a speech on behalf of Defense and Military Production Minister Mohamed Zaki in which he asserted Egypt’s continuing support to the CEN-SAD member states and the Egyptian political leadership’s keenness to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and entrench security and stability in the region.

During the meeting, the member states hailed Egypt’s efforts aiming at establishing a regional CEN-SAD center to confront terrorism. They also thanked President Sisi for the establishment of the center as well as granting 2,000 scholarships to military personnel to study and receive training in Egypt.

The meeting also approved Abuja Announcement that underlined the importance of boosting security cooperation among member states to face all threats the region encounters.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the US, France, China, Britain, Russia and Saudi Arabia as monitors, in addition to officials and experts from seven international organizations, including the UN, Arab League, EU and African Union.

The CEN-SAD was established in February 1998 by six countries, but since then the number of countries has grown to 29. One of its main goals is to achieve economic unity through the implementation of the free movement of people and goods in order to make the area of the member states a free trade area.

The CEN-SAD in Tripoli, Libya was established in 1998. Two years later, it became a regional economic community. The CEN-SAD has inked many cooperation agreements with international and regional entities, with the aim of enhancing combined efforts in political, economic, and cultural realms.

The CEN-SAD incorporates more than 20 North African countries as members, including Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana and Morocco, with the six states of Sudan, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Libya as founding members.

Ibrahim Sani Abani, secretary general of the (CEN-SAD), said earlier this year that Egypt is a strong country that has always offered help to other African states.

In an interview with Egypt Today, Abani said that Egypt is a pioneer country in Africa, which has witnessed progress in various realms, adding that CEN-SAD is proud of Egypt’s membership.

Abani said that Egypt has supported CEN-SAD states by providing their defense and security forces with 1,000 training grants, following a meeting among CEN-SAD defense ministers in 2016.

In the opening session of the 14th Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) conference held in Khartoum last September, Abani lauded President Sisi's efforts and initiatives to combat terrorism and extremist ideology.

Various counter terrorism efforts, initiatives and programs have been backed by Egypt and its president, Abani said, calling on all African states to follow Cairo's steps and unite to confront the security threats and challenges facing them.


Egypt has finished constructing the Sahel-Saharan Anti-Terrorism Center in Cairo – Press photo


Egypt has finished constructing the Sahel-Saharan Anti-Terrorism Center in Cairo – Press photo

---

Parts of the reporting was taken from the Middle East News Agency (MENA)