Tangier, Morocco, April 15, 2026 – As part of the Freedom250 commemoration marking 250 years of U.S. independence, the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) celebrated 15 years of partnership with Morocco at a panel discussion held at the U.S. Legation in Tangier, the oldest American diplomatic building in the world. The event brought together representatives from the Moroccan Directorate General of National Security (DGSN), the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR), Morocco’s Ministry of Justice, the International Association of Women Judges, and INL Morocco.
Since 2011, INL and Morocco have collaborated to strengthen public safety and security of Americans and Moroccans in their respective countries. The DGSN achieved full international accreditation of its National Police Scientific Laboratory in 2025, the first in Africa. INL supported the procurement of top-quality hold baggage and cargo scanners for Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, scheduled to become fully operational later this year. Professional exchanges facilitated by INL in 2015 led to a nationwide School Resource Officer program in Moroccan schools.
INL also helped establish the DGAPR’s National Training Institute in Tiflet as a regional center of excellence, training over 200 corrections professionals from 11 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Following Morocco’s 2024 alternative sentencing law, INL assisted the DGAPR in implementing reforms to reduce overcrowding, lower recidivism, and prevent radicalization. Collaboration also produced a prison architecture charter guiding safe, secure, and rehabilitation-focused facility design. Kristin Roberts, INL Director, said: “This 15-year partnership reflects our shared commitment to justice, security, and professional excellence. Together with Morocco, we created programs that not only protect citizens but also strengthen the foundations of democratic governance and the rule of law.”
Through its work with the Ministry of Justice, INL supported Morocco’s transition to an evidence-based justice system and the development of juvenile justice programs offering alternatives to imprisonment and legal aid for children. Judge Mina Sougrati reflected on her leadership and long-term collaboration with INL, from early programs at Dar Amerika to her presidency of the International Association of Women Judges.
The panel discussion celebrated these milestones and highlighted the enduring cooperation between the United States and Morocco in law enforcement, corrections and justice sector reform.
