APA-Rabat (Morocco) – This initiative was announced on 6 November 2023 during the royal speech on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the so-called Green March.
The international initiative launched by Moroccan King Mohammed VI to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for the countries of the Sahel is positioned as a major vector for solutions to the complex challenges facing Africa, according to several panellists gathered at conferences organised by the Policy Centre for the New South (PCNS) in Rabat on Tuesday.
The Royal Initiative for Atlantic Africa is in line with Morocco’s active commitment to South-South cooperation based on solidarity. It opens up promising prospects for economic integration, stability, peace and development in the Atlantic Africa region.
In an introductory speech, the moderator of the panel, Mohamed Tangi, noted that “the timeliness of the Royal Initiative for Atlantic Africa is unquestionable”.
According to Mohamed Tangi, moderator of the panel, this programme “promises to be full of hope and promises shared prosperity for the whole of Atlantic Africa. It highlights the region’s natural assets, but also the challenges hampering its development, such as the sectoral approach, political instability and security threats.
“In a global context where violent confrontations are tearing continents apart and where the ship of humanity as a whole, or at least what is left of it, is sailing in an area of unprecedented turmoil and turbulence, the Royal Initiative for mutually beneficial South-South cooperation promises to be full of hope and promises shared prosperity for the whole of Atlantic Africa,” he stressed.
For Mohamed Methqal, Ambassador and Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), the Royal Initiative aims to build stability, prosperity and influence in the region, with a focus on human development. He stressed the potential for sharing Morocco’s progress in this area.
According to Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow at the PCNS, the initiative aims to break down the barriers between the Atlantic and Sahel countries, offering prospects for development and stability to landlocked countries facing major challenges.
Colonel Major of the Royal Navy, Khalid Loudiyi, stressed the importance of regional cooperation to ensure the security of the Atlantic African region in the face of multiple threats such as maritime terrorism, piracy and illegal fishing.
For his part, Abdelhak Bassou, Senior Fellow at the PCNS, stressed the importance of the Royal Initiative for Atlantic Africa in promoting security and cooperation between the countries of the Sahel, which is essential in a context marked by multiple threats, including drug trafficking and violent extremism.
Finally, Professor Naïma Hamoumi highlighted the initiative’s role in protecting marine resources and promoting sustainable development, particularly through capacity building and public awareness.
This conference illustrates Morocco’s commitment to promoting an in-depth analysis of the challenges, risks and opportunities facing the maritime areas of Atlantic Africa and to working towards enhanced regional cooperation for the benefit of all stakeholders.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA