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Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Bourita: For King Mohammed VI, Atlantic Africa is a Geostrategic Heart
Doha – Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, made an important statement at the 5th ministerial meeting of the African Atlantic States Process (AASP) in Praia, Cape Verde. 'For His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, Atlantic Africa cannot be a periphery of the global world. It is a geostrategic heart, a dynamic interface between continents, a matrix of innovation and resilience,' Bourita declared on Thursday. 'Our duty is to make it a reality, a visible, tangible and sustainable reality,' he added. The Moroccan minister described the African Atlantic Partnership as both a strategic instrument and a political, economic, and human process. He noted that this partnership carries 'the ambition of an Africa that no longer suffers the winds of history, but chooses its direction and charts its course, with lucidity, confidence and unity.' He praised the 'vivacity, coherence, constancy, and collective determination' of the participating countries to establish the African Atlantic space as 'a dynamic of action, solidarity, and co-prosperity.' 'The African Atlantic space is no longer a geographical abstraction. It is now a strategic, endogenous and assumed reality,' Bourita stated, insisting it is a 'reality carried by a common conviction: that our future will be safer, more prosperous, and more sustainable if we build it together.' The 'Royal Initiative' has given birth to an unprecedented Afro-African partnership that embodies the essence of shared responsibility, he argued. It has laid the foundations for a new paradigm of cooperation – both pragmatic in its approach and ambitious in its aims: sustainable development, maritime security, environmental protection, and combating transnational threats. 'Atlantic Africa is today at an inflection point. It is scrutinized, courted, but also faced with multiple, systemic and transversal threats,' Bourita continued. He called on African Atlantic states to make 'an audible, credible and operational voice' heard, as other geostrategic spaces organize themselves in Europe, America and Asia. 'This can be done by strengthening our transregional anchoring, expanding cooperation circles, and deepening our synergies,' the top diplomat concluded. 'It is not just a political ambition, but an imperative of sovereignty and development.' From vision to reality This Atlantic vision connects directly with Morocco's initiative launched in November 2023 to provide landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean through Moroccan infrastructure. The initiative addresses a key handicap of Sahelian economies – lack of sea access. The ambitious project centers on the Dakhla Atlantique complex – currently under construction in Western Sahara. This port, covering 1,650 hectares, is designed as a gateway to the Sahel and is expected to be completed by late 2028. Moroccan authorities plan to transform this infrastructure into a logistical hub connecting major West African ports (Abidjan, Lomé, Cotonou, Dakar) with those of Tangier and Casablanca. A road corridor approximately 2,200 km long will connect this new port to Mali via Mauritania, with extensions to Ouagadougou, Niamey, and N'Djamena. In April, Foreign Ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – members of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) – met with King Mohammed VI in Rabat to express their 'total adherence and commitment' to 'accelerate implementation' of the Atlantic Initiative. Niger's Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré stressed Morocco's crucial role during a period when ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and other international actors were putting pressure on the Sahel's transitional governments. 'At a time when they were about to declare war on us, Morocco expressed its solidarity with us,' he asserted. Burkina Faso's Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré noted that his country is already working on technical and logistical aspects to implement the Atlantic proposal, stating the initiative isn't limited to physical sea access but marks the beginning of a fundamental economic transformation. This active diplomacy is also a means for Morocco to gain the upper hand over its regional rival Algeria, a historical mediator in the Sahel, now at daggers drawn with the AES countries. The Sahelian bloc accused Algeria of interference and supporting destabilizing insurgent groups. In early April, the three countries recalled their ambassadors to Algiers after Algeria allegedly shot down a Malian army drone. In line with this dynamic, Marrakech hosted a ministerial coordination meeting dedicated to the Atlantic Initiative on December 23, 2023. Under the auspices of Bourita, this meeting brought together Sahelian ministers and a representative from Chad, marking a first concrete step toward implementing the ambitious Royal Vision. During today's gathering, he noted that Morocco's empirical approach is reflected in key initiatives such as the Forum of Ministers of Justice (April 2024), the Presidents of Parliaments meeting (February 2025), and the Conference on Maritime Security and Counterterrorism (January 2025). Through this initiative and its diplomatic actions, Morocco confirms its status as an emerging African power, working for an integrated, resilient, and sovereign Africa. Tags: Atlantic initiativeNasser Bourita
Ya Biladi
28-04-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Finnish Minister Ville Tavio visits Morocco to strengthen trade and economic ties
Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tapani Tavio, is visiting Morocco from April 28 to 30, 2025, accompanied by a delegation of business leaders. During his visit, Minister Tavio is scheduled to meet with several senior officials in Rabat. He will hold talks with Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali, and Minister of Economy and Finance Fouzi Lekjaa. The discussions will focus on strengthening trade and economic ties between Finland and Morocco. Following a series of meetings in Rabat, Minister Tavio and the Finnish business delegation will continue their visit to Casablanca. The agenda also includes initiatives to promote exports, and Tavio will visit the city of Tangier, home to the largest container port on the African Atlantic coast, where several leading Finnish companies in the ports and logistics sectors are active. «Morocco represents a promising market for Finnish companies and serves as a strategic gateway to Africa», Minister Tavio said. He added, «With the Kingdom preparing to host the 2030 World Cup finals alongside Spain and Portugal, there are numerous infrastructure projects underway where Finnish companies can offer world-class solutions».
Zawya
19-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Slovenia Expresses Great Appreciation for His Majesty the King's Leadership, Morocco's Role as Key Player in Regional Stability
Slovenia expressed great appreciation on Friday for the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and for the role of the Kingdom of Morocco as a key player in regional stability. Speaking at a press conference following talks in Ljubljana with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Naser Bourita, Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, stressed that her country commends the large-scale reforms undertaken by the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the renewed efforts for political, economic and social development, welcoming the New Development Model and Advanced Regionalization. The Slovenian side also praised the strategic initiatives undertaken by Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, particularly the 'African Atlantic States Process' Initiative, 'the Royal International Initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries' and the 'African Atlantic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.' These initiatives aim to turn the African Atlantic area into a geostrategic framework conducive to intra-African development, while promoting stability and prosperity in Africa. The two sides also emphasized the two countries' positive and constructive role in maintaining stability, security and peace in their respective regions as well as their commitment to the fundamental universal principles of the UN Charter and the need to peacefully resolve conflicts with full respect of States' territorial integrity and sovereignty, in line with international law. During MFA Bourita's visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia and Morocco agreed to organize a business forum in the Slovenian capital. Slovenian businessmen are also scheduled to visit Morocco to identify areas of cooperation, particularly in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup. In the field of migration, where Morocco and Slovenia enjoy exemplary cooperation, a meeting of experts in the field is set to be held in Ljubljana in June. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Croatia Commends Large-Scale Reforms Undertaken by Morocco Under His Majesty the King's Leadership
The Republic of Croatia praised, on Wednesday, 'the large-scale reforms undertaken by the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the renewed efforts for political, economic and social development' of the Kingdom. In a Joint Declaration adopted following a meeting in Zagreb between Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Gordan Grlić Radman, and Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, Croatia welcomed the progress achieved by Morocco, mainly the New Development Model and Advanced Regionalization as well as sustainable development in the Kingdom. Croatia also expressed great interest in the Atlantic Initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the African continent, notably the 'African Atlantic States Process' Initiative, the 'Royal International Initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries' and the 'African Atlantic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.' These Initiatives aim to make the African Atlantic space a geostrategic framework conducive to intra-African development, while promoting stability and prosperity in Africa, reads the Joint Declaration. The two parties also underlined the positive and constructive role played by Morocco and Croatia in maintaining stability, security and peace in their respective regions, and their commitment to the fundamental universal principles of the UN Charter, and the need for peaceful conflict resolution with full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, in accordance with international law. In this sense, Croatia welcomed the role of the Kingdom of Morocco as a regional pole of stability and a catalyst for growth and development in Africa.
Morocco World
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Algeria's AU Peace Council Bid Ends in Failure Despite Intensive Lobbying
Doha – Algeria has registered another major diplomatic failure as its bid to reclaim its seat on the African Union's Peace and Security Council collapsed on Wednesday in Addis Ababa, a source told Morocco World News (MWN). The country failed to secure the required majority despite an intensive mobilization campaign, forcing the postponement of the elections and marking yet another setback in its declining continental influence. Held during the 46th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, the elections were meant to fill the seat Morocco has held for the past three years in the Peace and Security Council, the AU's executive body responsible for promoting peace, security, and stability in Africa. Throughout its tenure, Morocco has championed transformative initiatives within this crucial organ, spearheading solutions to the continent's pressing challenges such as the Sudan crisis and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The prestigious French newspaper Le Monde recently highlighted Morocco's exemplary and growing leadership across Africa, describing the kingdom as a key ally for the West and an agent of genuine peace and stability in the Sahel region. Le Monde commended the significance of Morocco's diplomatic weight in the Sahel, particularly noting the country's recent successful interventions in securing the release of French security officers in Burkina Faso. This diplomatic prowess was further cemented by the recent Rabat Declaration, where 20 African Atlantic parliaments enthusiastically endorsed Morocco's continental vision, including its groundbreaking Atlantic access project for Sahel states and the strategic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline Algeria's unsuccessful bid represents a crushing defeat for its diplomatic apparatus, which had mounted an aggressive campaign to secure the position. This latest failure unfolds as foreign ministers from AU member states convene in the Ethiopian capital for crucial two-day deliberations ahead of Saturday's summit. The Executive Council meeting carries particular significance this year, with elections scheduled for six AU commissioners, five Peace and Security Council members, and one member of the African Space Agency, along with several other key positions within the Union's structures. 'Leadership for Africa, not over Africa' In a powerful intervention during the Council meeting, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita delivered a decisive rebuke to Algeria's hegemonic ambitions. Quoting King Mohammed VI's historic 2017 AU Summit speech, Bourita emphasized, 'Some say that through this commitment, Morocco seeks to acquire leadership in Africa. I tell them that it is to Africa that the Kingdom seeks to give leadership' on the world stage. Bourita systematically dismantled Algeria's approach, highlighting Morocco's responsible participation in AU elections to provide the organization with the most qualified profiles. 'This participation in this noble competition does not stem from a hegemonic ambition, as some might think,' he declared, contrasting sharply with Algeria's aggressive lobbying tactics. The top Moroccan diplomat went further, pointing to the urgent need for transformative AU leadership: 'We need, more than ever, leaders capable of alleviating the bureaucratic burden weighing on our Organization, making its management more transparent, more connected to African realities, and its actions on the ground more efficient.' His statement is a clear indictment of the type of obstructionist politics that Algeria has consistently pursued within the organization. Mounting failures expose Algeria's continental isolation Algeria's latest setback follows a pattern of diplomatic defeats that have exposed its growing isolation within the African Union. Since Morocco's triumphant return to the AU in 2017, Algeria has watched its influence steadily erode, particularly in its failed attempts to maintain the Polisario Front's presence in AU proceedings. The country's diplomatic apparatus has suffered repeated blows, most notably with the July 2024 decision at the Accra summit that effectively excluded the Polisario Front from all meetings between the AU and its international partners. This decision, supported by an overwhelming majority of 52 out of 54 votes, dealt a severe blow to Algeria's decades-long strategy of using the separatist group as a political weapon against Morocco. These developments mirror a broader shift in continental dynamics, where Algeria's traditional stronghold on AU politics has crumbled in the face of Morocco's pragmatic, development-oriented diplomacy. Morocco's approach has resonated strongly across Africa, securing support from both traditional allies and new partners, while Algeria's obsession with antagonizing Morocco has left it increasingly marginalized. And while any rational state would learn from such a catastrophic diplomatic trajectory, Algeria appears determined to plunge deeper into isolation. Its deteriorating regional position is evident as neighboring states openly denounce its destabilizing interference. Mali's government delivered a scathing rebuke to Algeria's meddling on January 1, declaring that 'Mali neither seeks nor accepts lessons from Algeria,' while accusing it of 'closeness and complicity with terrorist groups.' Similarly, Mauritania's recent military restructuring in late December 2024 came as a direct response to aggressive Algerian border violations, with Mauritanian officials rejecting what they termed 'absurd and unconvincing' explanations for territorial incursions. As the African Union prepares for its 38th Ordinary Summit this weekend, where new leadership for the AU Commission will be elected, these developments signal a significant evolution in the continental organization's political landscape. The summit will notably feature the election of a new AU Commission leadership, with candidates from Eastern Africa competing for the Chairperson position and North African candidates vying for the Deputy Chairperson role. Morocco's Latifa Akherbach has emerged as a frontrunner for the latter, facing competition from Egypt's Hanan Morsy and Algeria's Selma Malika Haddadi, amidst growing support for Morocco's increased continental engagement. Read also: Algeria: Diplomatic Stubbornness Amidst Twisting Geopolitical Time Tags: African UnionAlgeriaMorocco-Africa Relations
