Morocco has deployed “thousands” of police officers to Qatar to aid the gulf nation in bolstering security for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, local Moroccan media reported.
The dispachment comes as part of a cooperation deal with Qatar, according to the report released by Jeune Afrique magazine.
The announcement comes only days after the director of Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security and General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST) paid a visit to the Lusail stadium, which will host the World Cup’s last match in 2022.
The DGSN-DGST chief, Abdellatif Hammouchi, was the first senior foreign official to tour the 80,000-seat stadium last month.
The visiting Moroccan official focused on cybersecurity at the security operations centre and command post. He also met with Qatari officials on numerous occasions to discuss security measures for the World Cup.
The visit coincided with Morocco’s participation in Milipol Qatar 2022, an annual international exhibition for land security and civil defence held in Doha, and the biggest event of its kind in the Middle East and North African region.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani met with Hammouchi after the ceremony to discuss security cooperation between Doha and Rabat.
Morocco agreed to send a team of cybersecurity experts to Qatar in late May as part of the FIFA World Cup preparations.
The North African country also had initially indicated interest in supporting the Gulf country in hosting the most important football event in the world back in 2020, providing Qatar with personnel resources and logistical support.
However, Morocco is not the only country that will be lending a helping hand to Qatar to secure the tournament.