Interior Ministers from North Africa and the Middle East gathered in Tunis for the 39th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC). The exceptional measures taken by Tunisian President Kais Saied on July 25 aim at “consecrating the foundations of the rule of law and freedoms,” the country’s Prime Minister, Najla Bouden, announced yesterday.
Speaking at the session, Bouden stressed that it was “important to unify points of view in an extremely complex regional situation, especially on cross-border organised crime, climate change and irregular migration topics.”
The Tunisian premier pointed out the Covid-19 pandemic had “exacerbated human crime and cybercrimes,” calling for “close monitoring of technological developments and new approaches to the concept of global security, especially health and cyber security.”
Bouden stressed that the security governance was a “cornerstone of a sustainable and secure democratic regime that meets the aspirations of the people.”
The meeting discussed a number of issues, including a draft project for a tenth phase strategy for combating illicit use of narcotics and psychotropic substances, a draft project for the sixth plan for the Arab strategy on civil protection (civil defence) and a draft project for the ninth plan for the Arab strategy countering terrorism.
The meeting also discussed recommendations issued by conferences and meetings of the Secretariat General in 2021, the outcome of joint meetings among Arab and international bodies in the same year and scopes for the establishment of an Arab office for cybersecurity and combating cybercrime, as well as the launch of the website for human rights agencies.
On the sideline, the Sultanate of Oman assumed the presidency of the Arab Interior Ministers Council at its 39th session, in the presence of Tunisian President Kais Saied, Arab Interior Ministers and representatives of the Arab League and the GCC.