Strengthening Counter-Terrorism Partnerships in Africa

In a world where security threats are increasingly unpredictable, complex, and connected across borders, the European Union is investing in sustainable, human-centred approaches to counter-terrorism. A prime example is the SPHINX initiative. Part of the EU’s CT JUST project, it brings together senior figures from intelligence, judicial, and investigative fields across Africa to improve trust, cooperation, and shared foresight.

“To secure the African house, we must first understand its vulnerabilities, together, as a family,” said David Bénichou, a key expert and organiser of the initiative. His words capture the spirit behind the growing “SPHINX family,” which is quietly reshaping how counter-terrorism partnerships are built, through trust, not just treaties.

Building trust across borders

The SPHINX approach is based on a simple observation shared by all counter-terrorism professionals: when information is not shared, it leads to failure. The initiative responds by encouraging regular, closed-door exchanges between professionals who may otherwise rarely sit at the same table.

From threat anticipation to prosecution, the goal is to build confidence and understanding between intelligence officers, prosecutors, and investigators. SPHINX focuses on methods that strengthen the criminal justice chain, particularly turning intelligence into court-ready evidence. This process is known as judicialisation of intelligence.

This is not only about technical procedures. It is about shifting from reactive counter-terrorism to long-term prevention, grounded in cooperation and mutual respect.

Small groups, big impact

Each participating country sends only three high-level representatives. This ensures a “small is better” setting where relationships can grow organically. The structure encourages frank discussion and deep trust, what organisers describe as a “club spirit.” As Abdul Echraf Ouedraogo, an advisor to Mauritania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted, “It's remarkable to be able to get so many security leaders around the same table.”

SPHINX does not replace official cooperation frameworks. It complements them by fostering informal, high-trust collaboration that helps turn national efforts into shared regional resilience.

The initiative tackles topics that matter to practitioners on the ground, from electronic surveillance to the cultural impacts of terrorism. These thematic workshops, rooted in real-world challenges, encourage participants to share experiences and develop best practices together.

Rooted in values, guided by expertise

New groups are launched at the Siracusa Institute for International Criminal Law, where EU values are imprinted from the start. While SPHINX draws on European principles such as the rule of law, fundamental rights, and due process, it respects local perspectives and encourages different approaches.

“We believe that having a different approach is an asset,” said Bénichou. This inclusive mindset allows SPHINX to adapt to the varied legal and security contexts of its partner countries.

Connecting regions through shared vision

To date, SPHINX connects officials from countries in North and West Africa. These include Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, as well as a representative from the African Union Centre for Counter-Terrorism. But its reach is growing. Every six months, new participants are welcomed from regions such as the Middle East and North Africa, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Gulf of Guinea.

The most recent edition of SPHINX, held in Brussels under the high patronage of Mauritania, placed a particular focus on the Sahel. The region continues to face an evolving spectrum of threats, from transnational terrorism to new forms of hybrid destabilisation. By strengthening cooperation and foresight among key national actors, the initiative supports African-led approaches to regional security.

The initiative forms part of a wider European effort to support peace, stability, and the rule of law beyond its borders. Funded through the EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI), CT JUST and SPHINX reflect a long-standing commitment to working in partnership with African countries.