While France is losing ground in the Sahel, Morocco is positioning itself as a trusted partner for these states. The keys to the Moroccan approach in this space interest certain circles in Paris.
“In his Afro-optimistic approach, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has always refused to see the Sahel as inevitable. This is why he has visited Mali four times since 2012, investing massively in the training of 500 imams at the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams and initiating numerous development projects, in addition to the Moroccan presence in the banking and economic sector,” explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs in an interview published in the weekly Le Point.
“It is in this spirit that the royal initiative was launched, offering Sahel countries access to Moroccan ports, storage areas, logistics infrastructure, optical fiber, and supporting them in customs procedures . The idea is to open up the Sahel, to get it out of its isolation.”
Nasser Bourita
“Reactions to this royal initiative have been very positive: three ministerial meetings have already taken place and task forces have been established by the heads of state concerned to promote ownership of this initiative. A reference document has been produced and will soon be submitted to heads of state for approval, with projects to be launched in the short, medium and long terms,” he said.
Without judging the failure of French policy in the Sahel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs declared diplomatically that “France, also involved in this region, is pursuing its objectives, but with an approach of its own. The common objective remains the stabilization of the Sahel, with deep respect for the choices of its peoples and with the firm desire to promote their development.
In his speech to the Moroccan Parliament, President Emmanuel Macron praised the Moroccan approach in this African space. “I know I can draw inspiration from your country and its action in the Sahara and the Sahel. We need stability in this region that respects the people.”
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