King Mohammed VI of Morocco delivered a compelling message at the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend Forum, which commenced on Sunday in Marrakech under his High Patronage.
In his address, read by his advisor Andre Azoulay, the Moroccan monarch advocated for a fundamental overhaul of global financial governance to ensure equitable representation for Africa and establish fairer financing conditions, emphasizing a spirit of solidarity and South-South cooperation.
The King commended the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s efforts in fostering critical dialogue on the continent’s development. However, he underscored that current international crises are exacerbating inequalities between nations and impeding progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The Sovereign stressed Africa’s urgent need to transform these formidable challenges into tangible opportunities.
King Mohammed VI then outlined four strategic guidelines crucial for harmonious and prosperous African growth:
The first guideline calls for a paradigm shift in development financing, advocating for greater mobilization of domestic resources and the creation of innovative financing mechanisms that reduce reliance on debt-generating foreign aid.
The second area focuses on establishing an institutional, economic, and social environment more conducive to attracting investment and generating employment. The King emphasized the importance of good governance, transparency, investor protection, and a resolute fight against corruption to foster a climate favorable for development.
The third guideline highlights the necessity of strengthening trade flows within the continent. The King noted that intra-African trade currently accounts for only 16 percent of total trade, significantly less than Europe’s 60 percent. In this context, he welcomed the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major opportunity to stimulate growth, industrialization, and investment.
Finally, the fourth area pertains to the strategic development of Africa’s abundant natural resources. With 40 percent of the world’s raw material reserves and substantial potential in energy and agricultural resources, King Mohammed VI urged African countries to process this wealth locally to generate added value, create jobs, and bolster regional integration.
The King reiterated that Morocco, leveraging its extensive expertise in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and infrastructure, is actively serving as a catalyst for South-South partnerships. He cited key projects, including the ambitious African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) and the Atlantic Initiative, recently launched to provide landlocked Sahel states with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Additionally, the King highlighted innovative financing mechanisms developed by Morocco, such as the Mohammed VI Investment Fund and the Casablanca Finance City platform, underscoring their pivotal role in the continent’s development. King Mohammed VI concluded his message by urging the international community to prioritize financing for African development, particularly in anticipation of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development scheduled to be held in Seville. He called for a comprehensive reform of the global financial architecture that fully incorporates African realities and ensures enhanced representation for the continent’s countries in international bodies.
“Development cannot be decreed; it is built through ambitious policies, investment in human capital, and rigorous economic governance,” the Moroccan sovereign emphasized, reaffirming Morocco’s steadfast determination to continue its efforts toward inclusive and sustainable African development.
MK/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA