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.