King Mohammed VI’s Initiative to enable Atlantic Ocean access for the Sahel States was praised by several officials taking part in the 50th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Yaoundé.
In this vein, Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré said that this “Royal Initiative is a win-win approach and a fine example of South-South cooperation.”
“There is no better solidarity than this and we appreciate the fair value of this unrivaled initiative,” said the Nigerien Minister, who pointed out that the issues of infrastructure and access to the sea are the major difficulties facing the Sahel countries.
He added that this “good initiative,” aimed at facilitating access to the sea for these countries and putting Morocco’s road and airport infrastructure at their disposal, will enable the Sahel States’ products to gain access to the international market.
Morocco is an important country for Niger and for the Alliance of Sahel States in general,” stressed Niger’s top diplomat, adding that the initiative would also help to diversify the supply ports of the countries in the region.
Highlighting the fruitful cooperation between Morocco and Niger, Sangaré described the Kingdom as a strategic partner, particularly in the economic, banking, security and religious fields.
For his part, Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, deemed the royal initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean as an opportunity that was welcomed by the Sahel countries.
This initiative is an opportunity to set up infrastructures and means of communication that will enable the landlocked countries of the Sahel to connect to world trade, Diop said.
“There is technical work in progress, and we hope that the infrastructures that will be put in place will benefit all the populations of the zone, and will strengthen trade between Morocco and our countries, as well as giving our countries access to Europe and other international markets,” added Mali’s top diplomat.
For his part, Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, said that the Royal Initiative would help promote prosperity in the Sahel region, noting that “without prosperity, there can be no stability or peace.”
Tangara also praised the exemplary cooperation between Morocco and the Gambia, expressing his gratitude to the King on behalf of the President and people of the Gambia for the considerable support Morocco had given to the success of the 15th OIC Summit, held last May in Banjul.
Head of the Moroccan delegation to the session, Mustapha Mansouri, Morocco’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and permanent representative to the OIC, also underscored in his address before the ministerial council the Kingdom’s commitment to Africa, highlighting its sustained efforts to promote sustainable development and strengthen Islamic cooperation among African OIC member states.
He noted that Morocco is actively supporting African economies through regional development initiatives and concrete programs aimed at fostering prosperity and economic growth.
One such initiative is the Atlantic Initiative, which seeks to provide Sahara and Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean by leveraging Morocco’s capabilities and expertise, he said.
Mansouri described this initiative as a promising endeavor that will contribute to the economic integration of these countries, improve living conditions, and promote values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
In addition, Morocco has expressed strong support for the upcoming OIC donor conference, set to be held in Saudi Arabia on October 26, 2024. The conference will focus on aiding refugees and displaced persons in northeastern Nigeria, the Sahel region, and the Lake Chad area.