Morocco's Atlantic African Leadership Wins Ministerial Praise
Doha – Foreign Ministers gathered at the 5th ministerial meeting of the Atlantic African States Process (AASP) in Praia praised Morocco's growing regional leadership role on Thursday. They commended the country's efforts in advancing the initiative aimed at transforming the African Atlantic space into a zone of peace and prosperity.
Cape Verde's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Fiomeno de Carvalho Dias, pointed to Morocco's crucial support. 'The decisive role of the Process's permanent secretariat based in Rabat has been essential to the progress of this initiative,' he told MAP news agency.
Dias confirmed Cape Verde's commitment to continue working with all member states. The goal remains creating 'an Atlantic region of peace, prosperity, and shared development.'
Gambia's Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara credited Morocco's leadership while noting the initiative 'belongs to all of us.' He said the vision originates from 'the wisdom of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has always advocated for the Atlantic space to be a space of solidarity, peace, and prosperity.'
For her part, São Tomé and Príncipe's Foreign Minister Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz described the meeting as 'very positive.' She reaffirmed her country's commitment to implement strategies based on political dialogue.
Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa praised the royal initiative as 'a suitable platform for strengthening cooperation.' He called for increased security cooperation to address rising threats in the Atlantic area, including criminal and piracy activities.
Mohamed Methqal, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, affirmed the meeting's key purpose. The gathering 'serves to implement His Majesty the King's initiative promoting peace, shared prosperity, and the vitality of the Atlantic coast,' he stated.
The meeting adopted the first implementation report since the initiative's launch. Ministers formalized various recommendations and scheduled the next ministerial meeting for September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
'Atlantic Africa cannot be a periphery'
Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita addressed participants by stressing that the partnership 'is not just a strategic instrument, but also a political, economic, and human process.'
'Our duty is to make it a reality, a visible, tangible and sustainable reality,' Bourita said. He reaffirmed 'the full determination of the Kingdom of Morocco to advance this dynamic, guarantee its continuity, and strengthen its scope.'
Bourita pointed to major initiatives reflecting Morocco's approach. These include the Forum of Ministers of Justice in April 2024, the Presidents of Parliaments meeting in February 2025, and the Conference on Maritime Security and Counterterrorism in January 2025.
'For His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Atlantic Africa cannot be a periphery of the global world. It is a geostrategic heart, a dynamic interface between continents,' Bourita declared.
The initiative connects with Morocco's plan to provide landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. This project centers on the Dakhla Atlantique complex in Western Sahara, expected to be completed by late 2028.
The first ministerial meeting of African Atlantic states took place in August 2010 in Rabat. After a 13-year pause, the initiative was reactivated in June 2022. King Mohammed VI's speech on November 6, 2023, placed the African Atlantic states at the center of Morocco's African policy.
Through this initiative, Morocco continues to strengthen its position as an emerging African power working for an integrated continent. Tags: Atlantic initiativeMorocco and Africa
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