Politics
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King Mohamed VI Launches Initiative to Connect Sahelian Countries to the Atlantic Ocean
In an ambitious move to promote regional integration and economic development, King Mohamed VI of Morocco has initiated a program to help Sahelian countries gain access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Charlie Kennedy
- 2023-12-22
- Updated [[ARTICLE TIME]]
The initiative spearheaded by King Mohamed VI is set to provide a new avenue for Sahelian countries to enhance their economic stability and security. It is built on the premise of fostering regional cooperation and creating opportunities for structural transformation of the economies within the region. This strategic move is expected to significantly uplift the living standards in the participating Sahelian nations. A ministerial conference is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Marrakech to discuss the coordination of this initiative. The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Residents Abroad, Nasser Bourita, has taken the lead in extending invitations for the event. Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Sahel are anticipated to attend this pivotal meeting.
Emphasis on Cooperation and Development
The King, in a ceremonial speech marking the Green March, highlighted the imperative of collaborative efforts and shared development strategies to address the complexities faced by Sahelian countries. On November 6, 2023, his message articulated a vision of the Atlantic Africa as a haven of tranquility, security, and economic growth. Morocco's proposal includes the formation of an institutional framework to unite 23 states with common regional challenges, suggesting that military and security measures alone are insufficient to resolve issues in the Sahel. Instead, the King urges an approach grounded in solidarity and joint economic development.
King Mohamed VI extended a generous offer to make Morocco's infrastructure, including its roads, ports, and railways, available to support development efforts across the Atlantic belt of the African continent. The proposed Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline is also seen as a catalyst for regional integration, potentially boosting the economies of participating countries. This forward-looking initiative aims to provide landlocked Sahelian nations with a gateway to Moroccan transport infrastructure, introducing them into a regional and international framework designed to ensure access to the Atlantic Ocean, thereby leveraging Morocco's strategic geographic position to promote shared prosperity.
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