Morocco Takes Part in Lake Chad Conference in Nigeria

A Moroccan ministerial delegation is taking part in the “Save Lake Chad” conference, which opened in Abuja on February 26 with the aim to raise funds and gather efforts to address the environmental, human and security challenges facing the region.

The delegation, sent upon Royal Instructions, includes Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Aziz Akhannouch and Minister Delegate for African Cooperation, Mohcine Jazouli.

The conference is held under the theme: “Saving the Lake Chad to Revitalize the Basin’s Ecosystem for Sustainable Livelihood, Security and Development.”

The goal of the event is to raise global awareness about the socio-economic challenges arising from the shrinkage of the Lake Chad such as insecurity and threat to livelihoods with a view to developing a comprehensive program of action to save the Lake from extinction

Morocco had rung the alarm bell over climate and environmental issues in Africa at the COP22 UN Climate Summit, in Marrakech in 2016. On the sideline of that event, King Mohammed VI had delivered a speech at the opening of the Africa Action Summit, wherein he reviewed the main challenges facing African countries in their endeavor to address global warming.

As Lake Chad shrinks because of climate change, the region falls prey to terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, which has increased recruitment of disadvantaged fishermen and farmers.