Latest news with #AtlanticInitiative
Maroc
7 days ago
- Business
- Maroc
HM King Mohammed VI Has Made Morocco A Leading Nation in Africa
His Majesty King Mohammed VI has led Morocco's democratic and economic development with wisdom, making the Kingdom "a leading country" on the African continent, according to Lord Henry Bellingham, former UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa. "It is fitting to pay tribute to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and his leadership, which has enabled Morocco to achieve remarkable democratic progress and emerge as a leading country across Africa," he stated in an interview with MAP on the occasion of the celebration of the Throne Day. Lord Bellingham highlighted the promising evolution of UK-Morocco relations, bolstered in particular by the close ties between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Majesty King Charles III. "In terms of trade, many opportunities have opened up between the UK and Morocco. This is largely due to the path laid out by HM King Mohammed VI," he added, noting that the two Kingdoms share many common features, including privileged relations with the world's major economies. Numerous sectors are open to strategic high-level partnership between the two nations, Lord Bellingham continued, underscoring the significance of the decision by Rabat and London to strengthen their bilateral ties. He also emphasized the cultural dimension of UK-Morocco relations, which adds further depth to the historic bonds that date back over 800 years. The former minister welcomed the recent decision by the United Kingdom to support the autonomy plan presented by Morocco to definitively resolve the regional conflict surrounding its territorial integrity. Support for the autonomy plan "is both an important and decisive decision," said Lord Bellingham, who also served as Minister of State at the Foreign Office responsible for Asia-Pacific. By viewing the autonomy plan as "the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis" for resolving the Sahara issue, the UK is aligning itself with key allies that support Morocco's territorial integrity, including the United States, France, and Spain, he affirmed. "It is equally important to recall that several African countries have opened consulates in the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla," Lord Bellingham observed. In his opinion, the opponents of Morocco's territorial integrity must face the facts and recognize the geopolitical shift in favor of the recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara. Lord Bellingham, a member of the UK House of Lords, also praised the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty the King, which aims to offer Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. This initiative will undoubtedly contribute to peace and stability in the region while paving the way for economic development and improved livelihoods, he said. Morocco launched the initiative, which, according to the British politician, is especially vital at a time when the world is witnessing alarming instability in the Sahel. He added that if any country exemplifies a stable democracy with modern institutions and a highly respected Monarchy, it is Morocco. "Morocco's efforts and initiatives for stability and economic development in the region further strengthen the Kingdom's credibility to lead change in the Sahel and across the region," Lord Bellingham concluded. MAP: 22 July 2025
Morocco World
18-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Dakhla, Nice Strengthen Cooperation Ties in Landmark Meeting
Marrakech – A French delegation from Nice met with Dakhla officials on Thursday to explore cooperation opportunities, marking a truly groundbreaking leap forward in the rapidly evolving Morocco-France territorial dynamics. The delegation, led by Olivier Bettati, Special Advisor to Nice's Mayor, held talks with Erragheb Hormatallah, President of Dakhla's Communal Council. Their discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest, with plans for a twinning agreement between the two cities. During the meeting, the French delegation learned about Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region's promising potential and ongoing development projects. 'I'm impressed by the sustained pace of project implementation,' Bettati told the press, underlining King Mohammed VI's vision for economic development and Morocco's central role in strengthening relations with sub-Saharan African countries. The Nice officials conducted field visits to major infrastructure projects, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port construction site and the seawater desalination station. Bettati noted that the planned twinning agreement aims to 'consolidate a mutually beneficial partnership.' Hormatallah explained that the French delegation received a presentation on key development projects launched by the King, along with the commune's action plan and completed projects in economic, social, cultural, and sports sectors. This cooperation catapults the already surging diplomatic momentum between Rabat and Paris to unprecedented heights. These partnerships build upon France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara – a position that has now crystallized and solidified as it approaches its first anniversary, having been officially announced in July 2024, followed by the 'enhanced exceptional partnership' agreement between French President Emmanuel Macron and the Moroccan monarch in October 2024. In April, the Occitanie Region signed a first-of-its-kind declaration of intent with Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, establishing collaboration in key sectors including aeronautics, green hydrogen, offshore wind energy, sustainable mobility, and tourism. 'Occitanie and Morocco share a unique history, woven through deep cultural, human, and economic ties,' said Carole Delga, President of the Occitanie Regional Council, during the April signing ceremony. Montpellier has also joined this wave of cooperation. Mayor Michael Delafosse visited Dakhla in the same month to explore business opportunities and discuss an upcoming cooperation agreement focusing on water sports, cultural exchanges, and sustainable economic projects. Launched in late 2021, the Dakhla Atlantic Port, now 38% complete and scheduled for completion in 2028, represents a cornerstone of Morocco's development strategy for the region. With a budget of €1.2 billion, this deep-water port will serve as a gateway for King Mohammed VI's 'Atlantic Initiative.' Announced in November 2023, the Atlantic Initiative aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – access to the Atlantic Ocean through terrestrial logistics corridors. This strategic project comes as geopolitical shifts reshape the Sahel region. Between 2020 and 2023, military regimes took power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, turning away from Western allies and forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). For Rabat, the initiative serves multiple strategic interests: expanding its influence in Africa, developing its southern provinces in Western Sahara, and strengthening its position vis-à-vis regional competitors. Tags: DakhlaMorocco France RelationsNice
Morocco World
16-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, Niger Strengthen Transport Cooperation
Rabat — Morocco and Niger appear to be taking bold steps towards securing strong cooperation in the transportation sector. Morocco's Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh held talks today with Niger's Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Colonel-Major Abdourahamane Amadou. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in transport and logistics, exploring cooperation opportunities in railway, air, and road transport sectors. Both parties recalled the North African country's accumulated experience in these strategic areas. Following the meeting, Kayouh expressed Morocco's commitment to establishing a 'win-win' partnership with Niger in transport. He outlined areas including training, expertise transfer, and technical support. The Moroccan minister showcased his country's experience in road safety, railway network development, and airport infrastructure modernization. He stressed Morocco's dedication to sharing its expertise with Niger, particularly through advanced technical training programs for Nigerien students. Kayouh also recalled the Atlantic Initiative launched by King Mohammed VI, which aims to connect Sahel countries, including Niger, to the Atlantic coast. The initiative is set to help these landlocked nations access sea routes and boost their commercial, industrial, and agricultural exchanges. The Nigerien minister, who leads a significant delegation on a working visit to Morocco, expressed his admiration for Morocco's transport sector achievements. He said his visit aims to learn from Morocco's best practices in governance, regulation, and infrastructure development. Amadou shared his country's desire to benefit from Moroccan expertise in creating a national airline, developing railway networks, and strengthening road safety. He explained that Niger wants to build an integrated and efficient transport network to overcome challenges related to being landlocked. The Nigerien official also praised Morocco's consistent support for Niger's development and expressed his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through active African solidarity and sustainable partnership. The meeting represents another step in Morocco's growing engagement with African partners, particularly in sharing technical expertise and infrastructure development knowledge with fellow African nations. Tags: MoroccoMorocco and NigerTransportation
Maroc
14-07-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Morocco, Key Partner of UK
Morocco is one of the United Kingdom's oldest allies and a key partner on a range of issues related to both British and global security, said Sir Liam Fox, former UK Secretary of State for Defense and International Trade, on Monday. In an article published on The National, Sir Fox praised Morocco's growing role on the global stage, describing the Kingdom as "a reliable and trustworthy ally and a pillar of regional security in the Sahel." The article centers on the UK's recent decision to support Morocco's autonomy plan as a solution to the long-standing regional dispute over the Sahara. Sir Fox described the backing, announced in June by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, as "a welcome and long-overdue decision." During a visit to Rabat, Lammy stated that the UK considers the autonomy plan "the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis" for achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict. He also emphasized that the UK is committed to acting consistently with this position, bilaterally, regionally, and internationally, to help advance efforts toward a resolution. Sir Fox noted that the British support, which he has "strongly" advocated for years, brings the UK into alignment with key allies including the United States, France, Spain, and Germany, countries that view Morocco as a trusted partner and a strategic anchor of stability in the Sahel region. The autonomy plan is "the only credible and pragmatic solution to the conflict," he wrote, adding that it offers not only a peaceful resolution but also a forward-looking vision for economic development, driven by investment and job creation. In his opinion, "opponents of the plan have no viable, let alone positive, alternative." Sir Fox also pointed to the economic potential of Morocco's new Atlantic port in Dakhla, which he said offers the UK a valuable opportunity to capitalize on new trade and development prospects, underpinned by the stability provided through the autonomy plan. This will support the Atlantic Initiative, launched by Morocco, "with the noble goal of promoting interconnectivity in the Sahel by offering countries in the region better access to the Atlantic Ocean," he said. Sir Fox, reflecting on the broader UK-Morocco relationship, emphasized that expanding cooperation between the two countries "comes at a critical moment." He also sounded the alarm over security threats posed in the region by the polisario separatists, who have maintained links with terrorist organizations and countries that support terrorism. These connections should "concern all those working to promote regional stability," Sir Fox said. "More generally, the polisario is pursuing a strategy of disorder, instability, and chaos," he noted. MAP: 14 July 2025
The National
14-07-2025
- Business
- The National
The UK's endorsement of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is a welcome step
Last month, the United Kingdom took the welcome – but well overdue – move to endorse Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Moroccan Sahara. This step, for which I have long been a strong campaigner, brings the UK into line with allies such as the United States, France, Spain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the UAE, who recognise Morocco to be a trusted and dependable ally and a lynchpin for regional security in the Sahel. The Kingdom of Morocco is one of the United Kingdom's oldest allies and is a key partner across a range of issues pertinent to British and global security. The Autonomy Plan, wherein the Sahara region would be self-governed by the Sahrawi people under Moroccan sovereignty, represents the only credible and pragmatic solution to the issue. The Autonomy Plan not only proposes a peaceful resolution to this dispute, but also offers a positive vision of economic development through investment and job creation. Those opposed to the plan offer no viable, let alone positive, alternative. With the construction of the new Dakhla Atlantic Port, the UK has an opportunity to make the most of the new trade and economic development opportunities underpinned by the security outlined in the Autonomy Plan. This will support Morocco's Atlantic Initiative, which serves the noble goal of promoting interconnectivity in the Sahel by providing them with improved access to the Atlantic Ocean. The strengthening of UK–Morocco partnerships comes at a critical moment. The risks of instability in the region are not limited to migration, a lack of investment and terrorism, but as the world is looking towards the Middle East, another Iranian proxy has been allowed to strengthen in West Africa. Recent attacks by jihadist insurgents in Mali show how fragile the region can be, and the importance of ensuring that the West is taking a keen interest in the region against the backdrop of increasing Russian and Iranian presence. Security will also lead to greater trade and investment opportunities. We have already seen the potential that the £20 billion Xlinks renewable energy initiative connecting Morocco and the UK could bring. Its huge advantages hinge, of course, on the political stability that the Autonomy Plan brings. A decision to fully support this project would send a strong signal to investors and partners that the UK supports a stable framework for the region, safeguarding infrastructure that will supply a significant share of British electricity by 2030. It is disappointing that, despite strong business and political support, Britain's Labour government has not shown the level of enthusiasm that this visionary venture deserves. There is also a clear strategic reason to embrace the Autonomy Plan over the vision of the Polisario. The Polisario Front, which claims to represent the Sahrawi people, has been described as a 'separatist group'. Yet, the Polisario have links to Iran and other terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah that should worry those committed to regional stability. Zineb Riboua, a senior research fellow at the US Hudson Institute, wrote in a recent report that the Polisario receive drones and training from the IRGC and Hezbollah. In 2018, the presence of a Hezbollah training camp in Tindouf, a town in Algeria close to the Moroccan Sahara border, led to Morocco cutting diplomatic ties with Iran. More broadly, the Polisario has pursued a strategy of disorder, instability, and chaos which aligns with the Russian, Iranian, and Chinese approach to the Sahel. In the US, Congressman Joe Wilson – who described the Polisario as a 'Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilising the Kingdom of Morocco' – has introduced legislation to designate the Polisario as a foreign terrorist organisation. This ought to be followed by the United Kingdom. Last week, the Polisario attacked civilian infrastructure in Smara. Attacks on a close ally must not be tolerated – especially if they come from an Iranian-backed militia. We must be clear that those who challenge our collective values are called out by the international community and isolated in the way that their behaviour deserves.
