RILO AP has participated in WCO Security Conference African perspectives on security challenges held from 11 to 12 December 2019, Brussels, Belgium. The conference which 160 delegates from 62 countries including private sectors participated aims to share Member administrations’ experience in building their security capability. And key partners of the WCO Security Programme such as INTERPOL, AFRICOM, OECD, OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) and experts in security issue provided insights from their perspective into their security threats that we are facing and how we can collaborate to manage security risks at the border.

The conference started with the keynote speech by Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, WCO, Mr. Dicksons Kateshumbwa, Uganda Customs and Mr. Makita Shimokawa, Japanese Ambassador in Belgium. Each presenter introduced the security crisis in Africa and stressed the necessity to tackle the illicit trafficking of components of IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and small arms. It is also emphasized that terrorist groups involve illegal trafficking of illicit drugs, gold or precious metal for their financing. Those presentations showed us that Africa is the epicenter of security issue in the world and other area such as Asia and the Pacific is also affected by their activity to raise funds. While the presenters emphasize the importance of customs’ role at the borders for security, however, some countries appealed that they don’t have enough human resources or equipment for inspection to protect their borders and it is impossible to protect their borders by their own without cooperation with neighbor countries.

All participants shared the same recognition that mutual cooperation with not only each customs administration but also other administrations or private sectors and international organizations including WCO are expected to create a platform for mutual cooperation and provide capacity building through the Conference.

For more information, please write to us at office@riloap.org