CAIRO — Egypt has finished construction of its counterterrorism center in Cairo for the regional community of Sahel-Saharan states (CEN-SAD). Egyptian army spokesman Col. Tamer Rifai said June 24 that his country had completed work on the 14,300-square-meter (154,000-square-foot) center and outfitted it with the latest technological equipment to ensure coordination among CEN-SAD member states on issues of common concern, mainly addressing terrorism and promoting security, economic and political relations.

Rifai also confirmed that Egypt will grant 2,000 scholarships for CEN-SAD member states' military personnel to receive training and pursue security and defense studies in Egypt. He further outlined Egypt's commitment to coordinate via CEN-SAD on holding periodic joint anti-terrorism drills.

The anti-terrorism center will provide anti-terrorism planning, information and strategies and offer military training and support. The Egyptian government had pledged 100 million Egyptian pounds (around $5.6 million) for the project. During an April 29 meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and CEN-SAD Secretary-General Ibrahim Abani in Cairo, Shoukry stressed the importance of the center in eradicating terrorism in the region and achieving peace, security and development in the Sahel-Saharan countries.

The completion of the new anti-terrorism center follows Egypt’s participation in the seventh meeting of the defense ministers of the CEN-SAD member states, held in Abuja, Nigeria, June 20-22.