FM Expresses Morocco’s Total Solidarity with Burkina Faso in its Efforts to Combat Extremism and Terrorism

Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, expressed on Friday in Dakhla Morocco’s total solidarity with Burkina Faso in its efforts to fight extremism and terrorism. “Morocco firmly condemns the cowardly attacks that have targeted Burkina Faso, a brotherly country, and which are contrary to the spirit of tolerance and coexistence that has always marked this country”, said Bourita at a joint press briefing with his Burkinabe counterpart, Olivia Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba, at the end of the 4th session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Commission. He pointed out that the situation in Burkina Faso is closely linked to the instability in the Sahel and Sahara region, where armed and terrorist groups have found fertile ground for their proliferation, noting that over 60% of the world’s terrorist operations take place in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of victims of terrorist operations in this region exceeds that recorded in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, he lamented. “Today, there are at least 12 terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and Sahara region, colluding with 19 separatist groups that threaten the territorial integrity of African countries,” he stressed, noting that the scourge of terrorist group infiltration into Africa is a general phenomenon. Burkina Faso, which is in the firing line, needs support and backing, given that the fight against terrorism in this country will have an impact on the entire Sahel and West Africa region, he added. The Kingdom, which has made the fight against extremism and terrorism an absolute priority, continues to call on the international community to pay particular attention to this scourge, by supporting the measures and actions taken by African countries faced with this phenomenon, according to a holistic and innovative approach combining humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding, with a view to putting an end to the phenomenon of terrorism and violent extremism, he underlined. Bourita affirmed that Morocco is following with interest the development of the transition process in Burkina Faso, and has confidence in the ability of the country’s leaders to deal with all developments in the country with wisdom and with the supreme national interest in mind, stressing that the measures taken in recent months by president Ibrahim Traoré are important for strengthening stability and relaunching the development process in this brotherly country. After stressing that the transition process is on the right track, Bourita noted that Morocco still believes that elections are not an end in themselves, but are held with a view to achieving stability, noting that “organizing elections in the absence of security and continuing attacks makes no sense”. In this context, he praised the wisdom shown by the Burkina Faso authorities, which is a source of satisfaction for Morocco, noting that the Kingdom once again expresses its full solidarity with Burkina Faso at this stage. “Working to strengthen state structures and interact with humanitarian needs demonstrates the existence of a sincere will to get Burkina Faso out of this difficult situation”, he added, underscoring Morocco’s readiness to support the development program launched by H.E. president Ibrahim Traoré, through support and the exchange of expertise, with the aim of achieving the desired results. Burkina Faso has shown remarkable steadfastness and stability in this particular context, added Bourita, expressing confidence that this country, with its leadership, its capabilities, the determination of its people and the support of its friends, is in a position to overcome the difficulties it faces during this particular period. The 4th session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso joint cooperation Commission kicked off in Dakhla, under the co-presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his Burkina Faso counterpart, Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba. This session provided an opportunity to explore new horizons for consolidating cooperation relations between Morocco and Burkina Faso, and to build fruitful partnerships in a wide range of fields, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Heads of State of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency president Ibrahim Traoré. The session, attended by the ambassador, director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) and representatives of several departments, culminated in the signing of 12 agreements covering several areas of bilateral cooperation.