Landlocked Sahel countries subscribe to Morocco’s King Atlantic initiative

Four landlocked countries in the Shael welcomed the initiative launched by Morocco’s king to facilitate their access to the Atlantic coast, a goal that requires investments in infrastructure and a co-development approach.

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad expressed at a meeting hosted by Morocco’s foreign minister Nasser Bourita in Marrakech Saturday their gratitude to Morocco’s King for such an initiative that meets the aspirations of these countries to economic and social development, key to fostering stability in the wider Sahel.

In a speech in November, the King called for helping Sahel countries access the Atlantic, noting that this “hinges on upgrading infrastructure in the Sahel countries and seeking to connect it to transport and communication networks existing in the region.”

He promised that Morocco will not spare effort to help sisterly Sahel states, including by offering access to its own infrastructure, roads and ports.

“To mercantile trade, the Sovereign prefers investment that truly creates common and lasting wealth. To anesthetic assistance, the Sovereign prefers structuring and “win-win” projects; and to the relentless security approach, the Sovereign relies on the inconspicuous power of the formation of minds”, foreign minister Bourita told his Sahel peers in Marrakech.

The four participating countries said at the end of the Marrakech meeting they would set up task forces, in order to implement the initiative.

Mali

Mali is “strongly engaged” in the Atlantic Initiative announced by Moroccan King, said Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop.

Malian authorities “appreciate this brotherly and solidary-based initiative, considering it the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to further integrate its action, beyond bilateral cooperation, into a now broader framework of an approach aimed at meeting the common aspirations of the authorities and the peoples of the Sahel,” he said.

“Offering water is offering life. Morocco has chosen to offer sea to landlocked States. For a State like Mali, which covers an area of 1,200,000 km2 and is surrounded by seven neighboring States, this offer represents an opportunity in many ways,” he said.

Morocco’s Atlantic initiative is conducive to promoting Sahel trade with the rest of the world and intra-African integration.

Burkina Faso

“Beyond the expression of an active solidarity, this initiative is a call to recognize the rights and values of landlocked countries in the global economy,” Burkina Faso’s foreign minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said.

Burkina Faso welcomes any initiative aimed at transforming its continentality into an asset, because it is clear that our countries have remained impoverished for a long time due to inappropriate policies,” he said.

He urged neighboring Sahel countries to spare no effort to materialize this “large-scale project” on the ground.

Niger

Niger’s foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré welcomed the Royal initiative, which “once again reflects the great vision” of King Mohammed VI for Pan-Africanism.

“We hope that this Royal Initiative will offer real opportunities for the exploitation, transformation and commercialization of our resources, and for the acceleration of regional connectivity and trade flows for the shared prosperity of Morocco and Sahel countries,” he said.

The initiative is meant to help the Sahel be “no longer a zone of instability but rather a zone of prosperity,” he said, adding that Morocco is a “true friend of Niger, a friend of all times.”

Chad

Chad’s foreign minister Mahamat Saleh Annadif also welcomed the initiative and commended the leadership of King Mohammed VI who made Morocco “a strategic and reliable partner of all African countries.”

In this regard, he welcomed this Royal Initiative aimed at promoting access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, noting that Chad’s regional economic integration project goes hand in hand with the vision of the King for this region.

Chad’s ambassador to Rabat Hassan Adoum Bakhit Haggar has highlighted, on the sideline of the event, the role of Dakhla port under construction.

This future port “will be the pride of Africa and all those who will benefit” from this port infrastructure, the Chadian diplomat stressed, expressing his thanks to King Mohammed VI for this Royal Initiative aimed at enhancing the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean which “really gives hope” to the region’s countries.

The Sovereign’s Initiative is key “for the survival of our landlocked countries”, Bakhit Haggar underlined, adding that Morocco has always stood alongside African countries.