Source: United States Department of Justice
On March 30, in support of ICITAP’s Advancing Counterterrorism Initiatives and Operational Needs (ACTION) Program, a delegation from ICITAP and the U.S. Embassy Conakry Regional Security Office met with senior officials from Guinea’s Ministry of Security in Conakry to strengthen partner capacity against terrorism and transnational threats. The engagement assessed the host nation’s commitment to implementing ACTION programming while aligning efforts to improve investigative coordination, intelligence collection, and interview and interrogation practices, with a deliberate emphasis on integrating both male and female officers into operational roles. By enhancing these capabilities, ICITAP directly contributes to disrupting extremist networks abroad before they can threaten U.S. citizens, personnel, and interests. Discussions with the resident program manager provided insight into existing foreign assistance efforts and reinforced support for institutionalizing specialized training within Guinea’s national police academy. The proposed curriculum will build sustainable expertise in investigative interviewing and intelligence-led policing, improving operational effectiveness across national police, border police, and specialized security units, including a prominent all-women formation. Senior leaders expressed strong endorsement of the initiative, highlighting the evolving role of women in counterterrorism operations and prevention efforts, and underscoring the importance of inclusive approaches to address shifting threat dynamics. Through targeted technical assistance, interagency coordination, and sustained engagement with host-nation leadership, ICITAP is strengthening Guinea’s ability to detect, deter, and respond to extremist activity. These efforts advance U.S. national security by reducing safe havens for terrorist organizations, limiting instability in West Africa, and protecting American lives and strategic interests overseas while reinforcing long-term bilateral cooperation. This coordinated approach ensures enduring institutional reform, strengthens accountability, and builds trusted partnerships that enable timely information sharing and joint operations, ultimately extending U.S. security outward by empowering capable allies on the front lines of counterterrorism, with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT).