Agadir Brings Together Experts from Around the World to Discuss Security and Artificial Intelligence Challenges in Africa

The proceedings of the second edition of the International Congress on Security Governance, Innovation and Development in Africa, organized by Ibn Zohr University and the African and Mediterranean Institute for Risk Studies and Analysis, concluded on Wednesday in Agadir.

The three-day event, attended by academics, researchers, institutional officials and experts from more than 28 countries, including Morocco, examined developments in the fields of security, justice and public policy in a context marked by the evolving nature of risks, digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Participants, including experts and officials from the United Nations system and the African Union, notably discussed the conditions required for effective, responsible and rights-based security, African challenges, as well as ways to strengthen international cooperation and build capacity.

In this regard, Jean-Hans Coetzer, Senior Programme Specialist and Team Leader of the E-Learning and Education Unit at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), praised Morocco’s “significant” commitment to the security of the African continent, stressing that strengthening security and stability in Africa depends on enhanced international partnerships, particularly with the scientific community.

In a statement to MAP, he noted that the event had generated “interesting” discussions on ways to address the transformations currently shaping the world, particularly the emergence of artificial intelligence, in order to meet citizens’ expectations and ensure effective security.

For his part, Mahamadi Ouédraogo, Security Sector Reform Adviser at the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), said in a similar statement that the congress was highly important, bringing together African experts around an issue “of the utmost importance”: security sector governance. He noted that the participants’ contributions had enriched discussions on a question that “is gaining momentum year after year.”

The opening ceremony of the international event featured an announcement by Daniel Prins, Director of the Security Sector Reform Unit at the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Division of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, who officially declared that Morocco holds “African leadership in security governance.”

Moreover, the congress, which seeks to strengthen dialogue between scientific research, professional expertise and decision-making by placing governance, institutional accountability and human security at the heart of discussions, provided an opportunity to highlight Morocco’s experience and the challenges of security governance in Africa.

Several workshops led by national and international experts were held as part of the event, launching discussions on a number of current issues, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation and African cooperation.

On the sidelines of the event, commemorative trophies were presented to several security officials, academics and experts in recognition of their contribution to the success of the congress.