Russia-Africa Forum: Morocco says peace in Africa hinges on respect of territorial integrity of African countries

Morocco has reaffirmed in Sochi (Russia) that there can be no peace or prosperity in Africa without the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states.

Addressing the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, convening in the Black Sea city of Sochi Nov.9-10, Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita also called for the respect of neighborliness between African States.

His remarks are seen as a message to the Algerian regime which shelters, arms and funds a separatist group with links to terrorist networks and Iran-backed militias, threatening regional peace and stability. Algeria is using the Polisario separatists to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory.

The Moroccan minister, who availed the opportunity of the Sochi conference to send Algeria these strong messages, deplored that some African States unilaterally and without any form of legitimacy position themselves as alleged leaders of the continent, but in reality are acting to serve their national agendas. It is clear that the minister’s comments are alluding to Algeria and South Africa, without naming them.

Morocco’s top diplomat also spoke about the royal Vision for advancing partnerships and development in Africa and cited in this regard the Rabat Atlantic African States Process, the Royal Atlantic initiative for the Sahel and the strategic Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic gas pipeline project.

The minister highlighted the royal African policy which is based on a human-centered approach, solidarity-based and South-South cooperation and win-win partnership.

On the sidelines of the Sochi conference, Bourita held a meeting with Russian peer Serguei Lavrov. Talks focused on bilateral relations, and on regional and international issues of common interest.