Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) is one of Africa’s most critical security challenges which is often linked to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, fraud and money laundering and poaching of endangered wildlife. Additionally, transnational organised crime causes profound social, economic, political and environmental damage.
In an effort to bring greater awareness on the impacts of transnational organised crime in Africa and present policymakers with policy recommendations to combat it, AGA-Africa Programme collaborated with Good Governance Africa on a highly engaging ‘Countering Transnational Organised Crime in Africa’ workshop held on 1st-2nd March, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The workshop brought together participants from the regional law enforcement agencies, civil society, community researchers, South African Police Service (SAPS), Crime Intelligence Division (CID), State Security Agency (SSA), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Institute of State for State Securities (ISS), Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT), Wildlife Crime Prevention Coordination Unit (WCPC), Eastern and South Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) and Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) and national and regional subject matter experts from South Africa and Nigeria.
The objective of the workshop was to provide a platform for the participants to enhance their knowledge and skills on the impacts of transnational organized crime in Africa and exchange tools and strategies on how to combat it effectively.
Adv. Shamila Batohi, National Director of Public Prosecutions South Africa, delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony as Chukukere Unamba-Oparah, AGA-Africa Programme Director and Country Coordinator for Kenya spoke on behalf of Markus Green, Board Member, AGA-Africa Programme.
Robert Rose, Founder, Good Governance Africa and Chris Maroleng, Executive Director, Good Governance Africa also made opening remarks at the ceremony.
The workshop sessions were facilitated by Stephen Buchanan-Clarke, Security Analyst, Good Governance Africa, Martin Ewi, Technical Coordinator of the ENACT Project, Institute of Security Studies, Colonel Krein, Section Commander, National and Transnational, South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, Lt. Col M. Botha, Sub-section Commander, Transnational, South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, Gregory Singh, Head of Technical Services, South African Banking Risk Information Centre(SABRIC), Dr. Ross Harvey, Policy Analyst, Good Governance Africa, Ashwell Glasson, Head of Academic Police and Sector Advancement, Southern African Wildlife College, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, Chair Board of Trustees, ROOST Foundation, William Els, Training Coordinator, Project ENACT, Chrissy Dube, Head of Governance Insights and Analytics, Good Governance Africa, Nyasha Mpani, Project Leader, Data for Governance Alliance Project, Terrence Corrigan, Project Manager, South African Institute of Race Relations, Dr. Craig Moffat, Head of Programme; Governance Delivery and Impact, Good Governance Africa and Issaka Abdou, Head of Governance and Human Rights Division, African Union Commission.
Kim Robinson, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for South Africa brought the workshop to a close.
Workshop Outcomes
Through this workshop the participants:
- Were equipped with knowledge and skills on the impacts of transnational organised crime in Africa and the critical security challenges it poses across the continent.
- Enhanced their knowledge on the current mechanisms, tools and strategies used to effectively combat transnational crime globally.
- Gained an understanding of the best practices used in combating transnational organised crime in Africa.
