Morocco, EU Co-Chair Two Counter-Terrorism Meetings

Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation, which oversees counter-terrorism operations, apprehend a suspect in Tangier in October 2021. Moroccan police said Thursday they had arrested a suspected ISIS group member. (AFP/File)
Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation, which oversees counter-terrorism operations, apprehend a suspect in Tangier in October 2021. Moroccan police said Thursday they had arrested a suspected ISIS group member. (AFP/File)
TT
20

Morocco, EU Co-Chair Two Counter-Terrorism Meetings

Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation, which oversees counter-terrorism operations, apprehend a suspect in Tangier in October 2021. Moroccan police said Thursday they had arrested a suspected ISIS group member. (AFP/File)
Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation, which oversees counter-terrorism operations, apprehend a suspect in Tangier in October 2021. Moroccan police said Thursday they had arrested a suspected ISIS group member. (AFP/File)

Morocco, in its capacity as co-chair of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), co-chaired with the European Union (EU), on March 20 and 21, respectively, the 5th session of the dialogue between the Forum and its specialized agencies and the 9th consultation on the partnership with the United Nations Coordination Compact on Counter-Terrorism.

The two meetings, which were held remotely, saw a broad participation of officials and representatives of the working groups and initiatives launched by the GCTF, the bodies of the UN Coordination Compact on Counter-Terrorism and the specialized agencies of the Forum, including the Center of Excellence "Hedayah", the Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience (GCERF), the International Institute for Justice and Rule of Law (IIL), as well as the member countries of the Forum.

During the talks, the Director of Global Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Ismail Chekkori, highlighted Morocco's continued commitment to regional and global stability and security through its third term at the helm of the GCTF, affirming his country’s inclusive and consensual approach in favor of multilateral cooperation to combat the terrorist threat.

Stressing the importance of maintaining the momentum that permeates the bonds of cooperation and collaboration between the GCTF, on the one hand, and the specialized agencies and the United Nations Coordination Compact, on the other, Chekkori reiterated the need to explore further modalities to ensure the implementation of best practices in countering terrorism and violent extremism, some of which have already been adopted by the Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

The two consultations provided an opportunity for participants to commend the strong commitment and sustained efforts of Morocco, which has co-chaired the Forum for three terms with the Netherlands and Canada, and currently with the European Union, as well as all partners working with the GCTF, to initiate and strengthen further coordination and partnerships in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

They also welcomed the role of the Kingdom and its critical contribution to maintaining the excellence of the partnership between the Forum, the Specialized Agencies and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, launched under Morocco's co-chairmanship.

Finally, the speakers identified priorities for future action, particularly with regard to new and emerging technologies in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Africa.



Druze Group ‘Rijal al-Karama’ Rejects Disarmament, Calls for Weapons Regulation in Sweida

Mourners attend funeral of those killed in clashes in southern Sweida town on Saturday (AFP)
Mourners attend funeral of those killed in clashes in southern Sweida town on Saturday (AFP)
TT
20

Druze Group ‘Rijal al-Karama’ Rejects Disarmament, Calls for Weapons Regulation in Sweida

Mourners attend funeral of those killed in clashes in southern Sweida town on Saturday (AFP)
Mourners attend funeral of those killed in clashes in southern Sweida town on Saturday (AFP)

A leading Druze movement said on Sunday that the issue of surrendering arms remains unresolved, even as local leaders in southern Syria announced the official start of implementing a peace agreement brokered by Druze clerics and dignitaries in Sweida province.

Bassem Abu Fakhr, spokesman for the “Rijal al-Karama” movement, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group's weapons were solely for defense and had never been used offensively.

“The matter of handing over weapons falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense, and no final decision has been made yet,” Abu Fakhr said. “Our arms have never posed a threat to any party. We have not attacked anyone, and our weapons exist to protect our land and honor.”

He added that while the group does not object to regulating the presence of weapons, full surrender was out of the question.

“We have no issue with organizing arms under state authority, provided they remain within the province’s administrative boundaries and under state supervision,” he said. “But the matter of weapons remains unresolved.”

Formed in 2013, Rijal al-Karama was established to protect the Druze community and prevent its youth from being conscripted into fighting for any side in Syria’s protracted conflict, which erupted after mass protests against then President Bashar al-Assad.

The group continues to operate as an independent local defense force, separate from state security institutions.

Abu Fakhr told Asharq Al-Awsat that a high-level meeting held last Thursday in Sweida—attended by senior Druze spiritual leaders Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and Sheikh Hammoud al-Hanawi, along with local dignitaries and community members—resulted in an agreement to reactivate the police and judicial police under the Ministry of Interior.

Abu Fakhr also denied recent reports claiming that Druze clerics, tribal leaders, and faction commanders had agreed to fully surrender their weapons to the state.

“This issue has not been resolved by all parties in Sweida,” he said, reiterating the group’s position: “We have no objection to organizing the weapons under state oversight, as long as they remain within the administrative boundaries of the province, but not to surrendering them.”

The statement underscores continuing tensions over the role of armed groups in Sweida, a province that has largely remained outside the control of both government and opposition forces throughout Syria’s civil war.