Intelligence and Security Experts from Sahelo-Saharan Countries meet in Bamako

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 22, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- As a follow up to the conclusions of the consultative meeting on the enhancement of security cooperation and operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) in the Sahelo-Saharan region, which took place in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 17 March 2013, a meeting of the Heads of the Intelligence Services of the countries of the region took place in Bamako, today.

The following countries participated in the meeting: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. Participants also included representatives of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services in Africa (CISSA).

Organized by the Commission of the African Union (AU), the meeting reviewed the security situation in the region, assessed the capacity building needs of existing national and regional structures and identified modalities for enhanced cooperation and sharing of intelligence, including in support of the implementation of the mandate of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

The meeting's opening session was presided over by Mali's Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.