Benghazi hosts talks on coordinating security efforts
LIBYA – The head of the Libyan Intelligence Service, Gen Hussein Al-Ayeb, has said confronting terrorism, organised crime and subversive activities requires stronger security and intelligence cooperation between states, stressing that the stability of the African continent is tied to Libya’s security and that its effects extend to European and regional national security.
Regional meeting in Benghazi with UN participation
Speaking to the Libyan News Agency (LANA) on the sidelines of the regional meeting of heads of security and counter-terrorism agencies in Benghazi, Al-Ayeb said the meeting was being held under UN auspices with the participation of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, and aimed to unify efforts and develop coordination mechanisms between security and intelligence agencies to confront terrorist threats in Africa.
He said Libya’s geographical position as a link between Africa and Europe made it necessary to strengthen its role in regional and international security cooperation, adding that about 70% of the targeted countries were taking part in the meeting to discuss setting up joint operations rooms, unifying communication channels and exchanging security information.
Information sharing and pursuing wanted individuals across borders
Al-Ayeb said joint coordination strengthens the pursuit of terrorists and wanted individuals across borders and ensures that measures taken by different states complement one another, explaining that those wanted in one country should be pursued through security cooperation in other countries.
He cited cooperation with Niger, saying there was security cooperation with a number of African and foreign countries.
Libyan expertise and partnerships with Europe and the Gulf
On Libya’s role, Al-Ayeb said the Libyan Intelligence Service has long experience in intelligence work, noting that officers from several African countries had been trained in Libya, which in his view reflects the expertise the service has built up.
He said the meeting is addressing stronger cooperation between security agencies in Africa, Europe and the Gulf states, given the political conflicts and security threats facing African countries, and underlined the importance of joint mechanisms for coordination and information sharing to help settle disputes and consolidate stability.
Al-Ayeb said Africa’s stability is an extension of Libyan national security, and that stronger security partnerships between the continent’s countries and their international partners are a pillar for confronting cross-border threats and protecting Libyan, African and European national security.
