Africa: Moroccan Diplomacy Committed to Actualizing Royal Vision for Prosperous and Integrated Continent
Reflecting Africa’s privileged place in the Royal diplomacy and aligning itself with the High Guidelines of HM King Mohammed VI, who laid the groundwork for the Moroccan foreign policy in the continent, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad is working for the consolidation of this visionary approach which is oriented towards the achievement of the aspirations of Africans. In this context, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita has held, since May 4, 2021, a series of teleconferences with his counterparts from 24 African countries representing 4 sub-regions of the continent: west, east, central and south. These virtual meetings, organized in a particular context marked by the coronavirus pandemic, helped to have a continuity of exchanges between Morocco and its brotherly and friendly countries as well as a follow-up of positive developments in bilateral relations. To this end, these talks were an opportunity to review the agreements signed, during the Royal visits, in various fields and to emphasize economic cooperation by encouraging the different actors to intensify their efforts to establish solid partnerships that generate shared wealth. It was agreed to prepare the holding of the next sessions of the joint cooperation committees, through inter-ministerial meetings including several departments according to the bilateral roadmaps. These videoconferences, marked for the most part by the adoption of joint statements, highlighted the reaffirmation of the resolute and constant attachment by brotherly African countries to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom as well as their support for the need to respect standards and procedures within the bodies of the African Union, underlining the relevance of decision 693 of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union dated July 2018, which established the exclusivity of the United Nations as a framework for the search for a solution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara. With regard to regional issues, the African foreign ministers pledged to coordinate their actions at the level of regional and international bodies in order to promote peace and security. Bourita renewed the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to support the strengthening of African unity and the development of South-South cooperation in favor of a prosperous and integrated Africa that HM the King called for in order to offer the political, economic and social progress to which the African inhabitants legitimately aspire.