Marrakech – The Ministerial Coordination Meeting on HM the King’s Initiative to Enhance Atlantic Ocean Access for Sahel Countries kicked off, Saturday at Marrakech, with the participation of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad.
This meeting is attended by Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, as well as Director General of Africa and African Integration at the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chadians Abroad and International Cooperation, Abakar Kourma.
Initiated by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, this coordination meeting focuses on this Royal Initiative of regional and international scope which aims to promote the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean.
This Royal Initiative is pa
rt of the continued efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, for a prosperous Africa.
It presents unprecedented opportunities to tailor solutions, fostering regional integration, economic transformation in these partner countries, and an improved quality of life for the Sahel-Saharan population. This approach, rooted in innovation and integration, aims to promote stability and security in the region.
This Royal Initiative was unveiled in the Royal Address to the Nation during the 48th anniversary of the Green March. In that speech, the Sovereign stressed that “the problems and difficulties facing African sister countries in the Sahel region will not be solved by security and military measures alone, but rather by an approach based on cooperation and shared development.”
To facilitate Atlantic Ocean access for Sahel nations, HM the King had proposed “launching an international initiative.”
In this context, the Royal Initiative aims to enable landlocke
d Sahel countries to utilize the Kingdom’s road and port infrastructure. HM the King explicitly stated that “Morocco is willing to put its road, port and rail infrastructure at the disposal of these sister countries,” in support of this initiative.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse