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Morocco World
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Egypt Rejects Algeria's Invitation to Join Military Drill Involving Polisario
Rabat – Facing growing isolation, Algeria's regime continues its attempts to strengthen its alliances, inviting a group of countries to take part in a military drill that involves the Polisario Front, its-backed separatist group that threatens regional stability due to its connection with terrorist and drug trafficking networks. Converging reports said Egypt is among the several countries that Algeria's regime extended an invitation to for the military drill dubbed Peace Africa 3, which will take place in Algeria from May 21-27. The inclusion of the Polisario sparks cause for concern, as the group has been facing backlash for its terrorist acts and attempts, and is currently facing demands to be designated as a terrorist group. The Atlantic Observatory for Defense and Armament quoted on Sunday its sources, reporting that Egypt refused Algeria's invitation to take part in the military activity due to Polisario's presence. The report came as Morocco and Egypt continue to pledge efforts seeking to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Sunday marked the kick-off of the Egypt-Morocco Investment and Trade Forum, convening representatives from the two countries to discuss ways to boost trade. The Moroccan delegation targets $500 million in Moroccan exports to Egypt in 2026. In September 2024, the two countries also expressed their commitment to working together to boost bilateral ties at all levels. The two countries recalled this determination during the 162nd session of the Arab League Council's ministers, stressing their willingness to keep the 'strong bonds of brotherhood uniting the leaders of the two brotherly countries and peoples, as well as their constant mutual solidarity, shared destiny and common objectives.' Egypt has been frequently renewing its constant support for the UN-led political process to resolve the Western Sahara dispute. In 2022, former Egyptian ambassador to Morocco Yasser Mustafa Kamal Othman reaffirmed his country's stance, noting that Cairo does not recognize Polisario's self-styled SADR. He added that Egypt does not establish any ties with the separatist group and does not wish to see its position interpreted or questioned, stressing his country's support for Morocco's territorial integrity. The remarks come as the Polisario and Algeria are on the quest for finding more alliances and partnerships to support their interference in Morocco's domestic affairs, challenging the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. Former Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Choukri reaffirmed his country's unchanged stance during a meeting with Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, confirming that the position Egypt has long adopted , and insisting that the country has not and will never recognize Polisario. Tags: egypt and moroccoMorocco and Egypt uprising
Morocco World
05-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Egypt-Morocco Investment Forum Kicks Off in Cairo to Boost Trade Relations
Rabat — Morocco and Egypt seem to be on track towards boosting their trade relations as the two countries held a significant Egypt-Morocco Investment and Trade Forum on Sunday in Cairo. The gathering brought together officials, economic players, and business leaders from Morocco and Egypt under the theme 'A Broad Economic Partnership.' The forum is part of the visit of a Moroccan economic delegation to Egypt from the 3rd to the 5th of this month, led by Morocco's Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Hejira. The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), in coordination with the State Secretariat for Foreign Trade, initiated the mission with the aim to strengthen the presence of Moroccan products in the Egyptian market. This includes both increasing avenues for exporters from both countries as well as creating investment opportunities. The delegation has set an ambitious target of reaching $500 million in Moroccan exports to Egypt by 2026. Meanwhile, the forum offers a chance to establish productive partnerships between the economies of both countries. Business leaders and Moroccan companies attended the event from various sectors, including agriculture, food and automotive industries, electricity, electronics, textiles, seafood products, energy and renewable energies, pharmaceuticals, medical and paramedical products, cosmetics, and construction. Both Hejira and the Egyptian Minister of Investment and Trade Hassan El Khatib co-chaired the forum, reflecting a shared commitment to explore significant potential for cooperation and complementarity between the two countries. The economic meeting sets the tone for a further deeper cooperation, not only between Morocco and Egypt, but potentially to develop partnerships with other African countries. This Moroccan economic mission to Cairo follows El Khatib's visit to Morocco on February 27, when he met with Moroccan officials. During El Khatib's visit, high-level officials met to agree on joining efforts to facilitate trade between Morocco and Egypt, one of them being the creation of the Egyptian 'Fast Track' system. The newfound system aims to increase the volume of Moroccan exports to Egypt — particularly in the automotive sector — and promote trade partnerships and business networks between private sector players from both countries.
