Morocco is committed to defending African interests, insists King Mohammed

Africa is the future, and Morocco is committed to defending its interests, King Mohammed VI has declared. The Moroccan head of state made his comments during a televised speech on Sunday. He stressed that the Kingdom’s policy in this regard is based upon cooperative partnership, where everybody is a winner.

“Morocco’s commitment to defend the causes and interests of Africa is not new,” explained the King. “It is an established approach inherited from our ancestors, and we will continue to consolidate it with confidence and pride.” He was addressing the nation on the 64th anniversary of “the King and People’s Revolution”.

The Moroccan monarch pointed out that Morocco’s orientation towards Africa was not a “spontaneous decision”, nor something imposed by passing circumstances. “It is rather the outcome of a sense of loyalty to a common history and a sincere faith in the unity of destiny. It is also the result of deep and realistic thought guided by a strategic long-term integrative vision set according to a gradual approach based on consensus.”

Morocco re-joined the African Union earlier this year, 33 years after it withdrew from the organisation over a dispute about the Western Sahara. The government in Rabat has now applied for membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a bid backed by massive diplomatic efforts in West African countries.

Read: Why did Morocco decide to join the African Union?

“Our continental policy is based on accurate knowledge of African reality,” said King Mohammed, “and on common interests through cooperative partnerships.” Furthermore, he added, good examples of Moroccan commitment to and interest in Africa are the major development projects launched recently, such as the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline and the construction of fertiliser production compounds in Ethiopia and Nigeria. “This policy has strengthened our economic partnerships and contributed to Morocco’s return to the African Union, in addition to the preliminary approval of its accession to ECOWAS.”

While declaring that Morocco is building a confident, corporate and united Africa based upon concrete projects and open to its surroundings, the King insisted that Morocco’s return to the continental establishment “is an important diplomatic milestone in our country’s foreign policy.”