Sahara: Sierra Leone reiterates support for Morocco’s Territorial Integrity
Sierra Leone has reiterated its “unwavering support” for Morocco’s territorial integrity and for the autonomy plan as the only basis for resolving this regional conflict.
The support was renewed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Musa Kabba at a joint press conference he held Monday in Rabat with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.
The Sierra Leonese top diplomat, who is paying his first visit to Morocco as head of his country’s diplomacy, reiterated his country’s position in “relentlessly supporting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Moroccanness of the Sahara.”
He further emphasized the importance and primacy of the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only basis for resolving this issue, reiterating the full support of his country to the role played by the United Nations as “an exclusive framework” to achieve a lasting solution to this regional dispute.
Musa Kaaba also welcomed the dynamics of international recognition of the territorial unity and integrity of Morocco, recalling Sierra Leone’s adherence to these dynamics by opening a consulate in Dakhla in August 2021.
He voiced his “extreme delight” to collaborate with Bourita in order to implement the 13 agreements and the decisions taken during the last joint commission of cooperation that took place in Dakhla on April 28, 2023.
It was agreed, during the meeting, to set up a joint committee between the two Foreign Ministries to supervise the implementation of these agreements as well as a monitoring mechanism, because what is more important is not the signing of the agreements, but their implementation.
Concerning bilateral ties, the head of Sierra Leonese diplomacy affirmed that they have substantially evolved under the directives and leadership of King Mohammed VI and President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, who thanked Morocco for its support to Sierra Leone’s bidding for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 period.
In this connection, Bourita said that there will be greater coordination between the two countries on the issues on the agenda of the Security Council, whether continental, regional, North African, or concerning the Arab world and the Mediterranean area.
The two parties also agreed to coordinate their positions regarding the events occurring in West Africa.
Bourita also announced that Morocco “will open an embassy in Sierra Leone before the end of the current month”, and that the Kingdom will dispatch a delegation from the Agriculture ministry to support the large-scale food production project launched by President Julius Maada Bio.
In the field of training, Mr. Bourita said that it was decided to increase the number of scholarships awarded to Sierra Leonean students in Morocco from 105 to 120.
