The 15th Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission, held in Rabat Monday, under the co-chairmanship of the two countries’ Prime Ministers, Aziz Akhannouch and Ousmane Sonko, highlighted by the signing of several cooperation and partnership agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
The two countries’ Foreign Ministers Nasser Bourita and Cheikh Niang inked the Joint Communiqué concluding this 15th session of the Morocco-Senegal Joint Partnership Commission. They also signed a MoU on the establishment of a consular consultation mechanism, a draft MoU in the field of youth, a protocol for the implementation of the agreement on international road transport of passengers and goods, a cooperation agreement in the field of road safety, and a framework agreement on technical assistance in the field of highways.
The two officials inked other MoUs on cooperation in the field of digital economy; infrastructure; vocational training, scholarships, and internships; and expertise sharing.
The Ministers of Higher Education, Azzedine El Midaoui and Daouda Ngom, signed the implementation program for the 2026-2028 period, while the Ministers of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour and Serigne Gueye Diop inked a MoU on the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, a cooperation agreement in the field of industrial infrastructure, and a MoU on standardization.
Other agreements covered cooperation in the field of agriculture, animal production, animal health, and food safety as well as health control of fishery and aquaculture products.
Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) and the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD) on their part inked a partnership and cooperation agreement.
As stated in the joint communiqué, Morocco and Senegal emphasized the need to maintain regular dialogue between the two brotherly countries to further develop bilateral relations, consult on regional and international issues, and ensure regular monitoring of the implementation of commitments made.
Both parties highlighted the atmosphere of fraternity and mutual understanding that marked the work of this commission, enabling a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and identify new opportunities for strengthening it.
Thus, in economic and trade terms, they highlighted the decisive role played by Moroccan and Senegalese private sectors in developing and enshrining economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as in promoting trade and encouraging new investment.
In this regard, they invited the private sector in both countries to actively contribute to reinforcing economic exchanges and partnerships, and called on the Economic Impulse Group to meet, at a date to be agreed through diplomatic channels, with a view to giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
With regard to the mining, energy, and hydrocarbon sectors, both parties welcomed the progress made on the Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, a symbol of South-South cooperation, while emphasizing that Senegal will play a key role in its first phase.
Regarding the Atlantic African States Process and the significant opportunities for synergy and cooperation between the States concerned, they emphasized the importance of coordination and consultation in order to make the Atlantic African space an area of co-emergence, stability, and shared development in strategic areas such as the environment, food security, health, energy, logistical interconnection, resource pooling, and the exchange of experiences.
With regard to King Mohammed VI’s Initiative to grant landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic, both parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue consultations with all the States concerned to implement the initiative within the framework of an inclusive and mutually beneficial partnership.
They also opted to strengthen bilateral partnership with a view to developing renewable energies, promoting the implementation of electricity access projects, strengthening industrial capacities, and promoting the local development and processing of mineral resources.