Structure
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of AFRIPOL, composed of the Chiefs of Police from all 55 African Union Member States. It plays a central role in shaping the future of police cooperation across the continent.
The General Assembly is responsible for setting the overall policies, strategic priorities, and operational guidelines of AFRIPOL. It also oversees the implementation of these directives once adopted by the relevant African Union policy organs.
To ensure balanced regional representation, the General Assembly is guided by a Bureau composed of:
- One President (Chairperson)
- Three Vice Presidents (Vice Chairs)
- One Rapporteur
Current Bureau of the AFRIPOL General Assembly
- Kenya (Eastern Africa) – Chair of the General Assembly
- Côte d'Ivoire (Western Africa) – First Vice Chair
- Republic of Congo (Central Africa) – Second Vice Chair
- Botswana (Southern Africa) – Third Vice Chair
- Algeria (Northern Africa) – Rapporteur
Together, these leaders provide strategic guidance and ensure that AFRIPOL remains aligned with the security priorities of the African Union and its Member States.
Steering Committee
The AFRIPOL Secretariat held twelve meetings of the AFRIPOL Steering Committees as follows:
- First meeting, May 2017, Algiers;
- Second meeting , 11 July 2018, Algiers;
- Third meeting, 14 October 2018, Algiers;
- Fourth meeting , 7-8 March 2019, Lusaka;
- Fifth meeting, 1 October 2019, Algiers;
- Sixth meeting, 25 June 2020, Algiers;
- Seventh meeting, 19 October 2020, Algiers;
- Eight meeting, 11 March 2021, Algiers;
- Nineth meeting, 7 October 2021, Algiers;
- Tenth meeting, 30 - 31 March 2022, Nairobi;
- Eleventh meeting, 3- 4 May 2023, Tunis;
- Twelfth meeting, 29 - 30 October 2024, Algiers;
- Thirteenth meeting, 7 - 8 July 2025, Algiers.
The Secretariat
Mission
The AFRIPOL Secretariat serves as the operational and administrative backbone of the organization. Based at AFRIPOL Headquarters in Algiers, the Secretariat is entrusted with convening and supporting the work of the General Assembly, the Steering Committee, and other institutional meetings.
In addition to coordinating AFRIPOL’s governance bodies, the Secretariat:
- Maintains regular contact with national, regional, and international law enforcement authorities and partners;
- Supports Member States in implementing strategic police cooperation initiatives;
- Executes the decisions and directives of the General Assembly and the Steering Committee;
- Facilitates communication, information sharing, and collaboration across the African Union’s law enforcement network.
Through its mission, the Secretariat ensures AFRIPOL’s effective functioning and its alignment with continental priorities in preventing and combating transnational organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime.
National Liaison Offices (NLOs)
The National Liaison Offices (NLOs) are the cornerstone of AFRIPOL’s operational network across Africa. Located in each Member State, these offices serve as the official link between national police institutions and the AFRIPOL Secretariat.
NLOs are responsible for:
- Coordinating all AFRIPOL-related activities within their respective countries;
- Facilitating communication and cooperation between AFRIPOL and national law enforcement agencies;
- Ensuring the effective implementation of AFRIPOL initiatives at the national level.
By maintaining consistent engagement with both the Secretariat and domestic police institutions, the NLOs play a vital role in strengthening continental police cooperation and enhancing the collective response to transnational threats.
Some activities organized for National Liaisons Offices:
Meetings of NLOs
- First meeting of NLOs, 28-29 November 2019
- Second meeting of NLOs, 15-16 March 2021
Trainings on AFSECOM System
- First IT training on AFSECOM, 11-12 March 2018, Algiers;
- Second IT training on AFSECOM, 14-15 March 2018, Algiers;
- Third IT training on AFSECOM; 4 – 5 December 2018;
- Fourth training on AFSECOM; 26-27 June 2019; and
- Fifth IT training on AFSECOM, 8-9 March 2020, Algiers.
Peace and Security Council
The Executive Director of AFRIPOL briefs to the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at following sessions:
The 731st meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council – an Open Session on the theme: “The link between terrorism and transnational organized crime, 22 November 2017, Addis Ababa.
The official website of The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AUPSC) is available at this link: http://www.peaceau.org/en/page/42-psc