The commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco in favor of peace, stability and economic development in the Sahel region was highly praised during a debate at the Royal British Institute for International Studies, better known by the name Chatham House.
Intervening during this debate, held under the theme “The response of North Africa to upheavals in the Sahel”, researchers took turns to highlight the importance of diplomacy deployed by Morocco towards the Sahel, a region with which the kingdom is bound by solid historical and human relations. “Despite instability in the region (from the Sahel), Morocco’s commitment in the broader Sahelian area has been strengthened in favor of the strong economic presence of the kingdom,” said Paul Melly, a researcher specializing in development and politics in Africa and the Middle East. “Unlike other North African countries, Morocco has never hesitated to deploy significant economic investments and establish partnerships with the Sahel countries, despite instability,” said Melly, author of several research on the Sahel for the benefit of European research institutes.
Read also: Morocco and the States of the Sahel: a strategic dynamic towards the Atlantic
During this Chatham House debate, one of the most prestigious think-tanks in the world, researchers were particularly interested in the holistic approach adopted by Morocco as part of its efforts to strengthen peace, stability and economic integration in the Sahel. “Morocco has always pleaded in favor of a holistic approach to relations with the region, an approach that combines economic, security and diplomatic commitment,” said Intissar Faki, director of the North Africa and Sahel program at the Middle East Institute.
The approach of Morocco is based on a solid base makes good practices in many economic sectors, underlined the researcher, citing agriculture, innovation, energy and infrastructure. In addition to this economic strike force, the approach of Morocco in favor of stability and development in the Sahel is also based on a soft power, which is inspired by the role and leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Amir Al-Mouminine, she said, noting that this dimension has successfully established ground fields in the region. The historical relations that Morocco has throughout the Sahel region have enabled the kingdom to assume the role of leader, particularly in security issues in the region, said the analyst. A particular emphasis was put, during the debate, on the royal initiative aimed at facilitating the access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, the participants stressing that the positive benefits of this initiative on the region will soon be felt in the future.
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