Morocco has called for making the Afro-Atlantic space a driver of peace, stability and shared prosperity in line with the Royal vision and initiatives launched for Sahel countries and for strengthening cooperation between African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
In an address to the 7th ministerial meeting of the Atlantic African States Process (AASP) convening in Cotonou, Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita called on Atlantic African countries to strengthen cooperation in maritime safety, green logistics corridors and sustainable energy transition to speed up African integration.
Nearly 90% of all globally traded goods are transported via maritime routes, including 30% which are shipped through strategic maritime African waterways, said Bourita in the address read out on his behalf by Director of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (ACDI).
To avoid the supply chain disruptions generated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz affecting food security in several African countries, Morocco urged Atlantic African countries to contribute to the international governance of maritime spaces and passages as maritime chokepoints are becoming tools of economic warfare threatening global peace and stability.
The Moroccan official also called for stronger regional cooperation through the exchange of information and intelligence, and better coordination to combat piracy, illegal fishing, transnational trafficking and cyberattacks targeting port and maritime infrastructures. Maritime security is essential for the economic integration of the Atlantic African states, he affirmed.
He stressed the importance of boosting the blue economy, building modern eco-friendly port infrastructures, encouraging the digitization of port & customs procedures and strengthening the connectivity between landlocked countries and African Atlantic ports.
