Morocco is deeply committed to promoting peace, security and development in Africa, said on Thursday in Rabat, Moroccan foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at the 2nd Forum of Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committees of African Parliaments.
Addressing the meeting, convened under the theme: “Towards Establishing Lasting Foundations for Stability and Security in Africa,” the minister called for the respect of the territorial integrity of countries and the principles of neighborliness, the non-interference in their internal affairs and denounced those sheltering terrorist and separatist groups which threaten Africa’s stability.
Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco believes in the intrinsic relation between security, peace and development, said Mr. Bourita, noting that the security approach is insufficient to address the continent’s complex challenges, stressing the need for a global vision integrating the social and economic dimensions to guarantee lasting peace and prosperity.
Morocco, which trusts in Africa’s potential, sees opportunities “where others see only problems,” he said, affirming that the Kingdom supports sustainable solutions, even if they are difficult and time-consuming to implement.
“Morocco’s commitment to Africa is a commitment to the well-being of the continent, not just empty slogans,” said the minister, citing in this regard the royal decision of cancelling in 2000 the debt of the least developed African countries and eliminating tariffs on their products.
He also recalled the African Action Summit held in 2016, at the Sovereign’s initiative, the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA Initiative) to climate change, the Royal Atlantic Initiative for Sahel countries and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project to connect 16 countries along the Atlantic coast and benefit over 340 million people.
Morocco places Africa at the heart of its foreign policy, Bourita said, adding that “Our stability is directly linked to that of our continent, and our development depends on that of Africa”.
For his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami said despite the economic strides made across the Continent, Africa is still facing major security challenges posed by the resurgence of conflicts, separatism and terrorism which undermine the territorial integrity & sovereignty of States and threaten regional stability.
Africa, which depends on external food supplies, suffers from recurrent drought, desertification, soil erosion, poverty and food shortages, said Mr. Tabli Alami, noting that these problems should generate frustration and affect African determination to rise up to the challenges.
The Continent has all the potentials and resources needed to speed up development and achieve prosperity, added the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representative, citing the complementarity of African economies, its young human resources and success of African diaspora besides the Continent’s fertile and arable lands that can ensure food security.
The Continent also boasts two large oceans and two seas, offering the possibility of building strategic ports for international maritime trade, said Mr. Talbi Alami, noting that Africa has huge renewable sources and strategic minerals which modern industries and technologies are coveting.
He stressed the need to invest in these untapped economic potentials and cited the various regional African economic blocs, the Atlantic African States Process, the royal initiative for the Sahel and the Nigeria-Morocco-Europe gas pipeline project, saying all these initiatives seek to unleash Africa’s full potential.
The 2nd Forum of Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committees of African Parliaments, hosted by Morocco, is attended by MPs from 40 African countries. The gathering seeks to enhance cooperation and coordination between African parliaments to counter the security and stability challenges facing the Continent.
