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France 24
an hour ago
- Politics
- France 24
Morocco's Atlantic gambit: linking restive Sahel to ocean
The "Atlantic Initiative" promises ocean access to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger through a new $1.3-billion port in the former Spanish colony claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front but largely controlled by Morocco. But the project remains fraught with challenges at a time when military coups in the Sahel states have brought new leaderships to power intent on overturning longstanding political alignments following years of jihadist violence. The Moroccan initiative aims to "substantially transform the economy of these countries" and "the region", said King Mohammed VI when announcing it in late 2023. The "Dakhla Atlantic" port, scheduled for completion at El Argoub by 2028, also serves Rabat's goal of cementing its grip on Western Sahara after US President Donald Trump recognised its sovereignty over the territory in 2020. Morocco's regional rival Algeria backs the Polisario but has seen its relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger fray in recent months after the downing a Malian drone. Military coups over the past five years have seen the three Sahel states pivot towards Russia in a bid to restore their sovereignty and control over natural resources after decades within the sphere of influence of their former colonial ruler France. French troops were forced to abandon their bases in the three countries, ending their role in the fight against jihadists who have found sanctuary in the vast semi-arid region on the southern edge of the Sahara. 'Godsend' After both the African Union and West African bloc ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on the new juntas, Morocco emerged as an early ally, with Niger calling the megaproject "a godsend". "Morocco was one of the first countries where we found understanding at a time when ECOWAS and other countries were on the verge of waging war against us," Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said in April during a visit to Rabat alongside his Malian and Burkinabe counterparts. The Sahel countries established a bloc of their own -- the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) -- in September 2023 but have remained dependent on the ports of ECOWAS countries like Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. Rising tensions with the West African bloc could restrict their access to those ports, boosting the appeal of the alternative trade outlet being offered by Rabat. - 'Many steps to take' - Morocco has been seeking to position itself as a middleman between Europe and the Sahel states, said Beatriz Mesa, a professor at the International University of Rabat. With jihadist networks like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group striking ever deeper into sub-Saharan Africa, the security threat has intensified since the departure of French-led troops. Morocco was now "profiting from these failures by placing itself as a reliable Global South partner", Mesa said. Its initiative has won the backing of key actors including the United States, France and the Gulf Arab states, who could provide financial support, according to specialist journal Afrique(s) en mouvement. But for now the proposed trade corridor is little more than an aspiration, with thousands of kilometres (many hundreds of miles) of desert road-building needed to turn it into a reality. "There are still many steps to take," since a road and rail network "doesn't exist", said Seidik Abba, head of the Sahel-focused think tank CIRES. Rida Lyammouri of the Policy Center for the New South said the road route from Morocco through Western Sahara to Mauritania is "almost complete", even though it has been targeted by Polisario fighters. Abdelmalek Alaoui, head of the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Intelligence, said it could cost as much as $1 billion to build a land corridor through Mauritania, Mali and Niger all the way to Chad, 3,100 kilometres (1,900 miles) to the east.
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Morocco's Atlantic Gambit: Linking Restive Sahel To Ocean
A planned trade corridor linking the landlocked Sahel to the Atlantic is at the heart of an ambitious Moroccan project to tackle regional instability and consolidate its grip on disputed Western Sahara. The "Atlantic Initiative" promises ocean access to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger through a new $1.3-billion port in the former Spanish colony claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front but largely controlled by Morocco. But the project remains fraught with challenges at a time when military coups in the Sahel states have brought new leaderships to power intent on overturning longstanding political alignments following years of jihadist violence. The Moroccan initiative aims to "substantially transform the economy of these countries" and "the region", said King Mohammed VI when announcing it in late 2023. The "Dakhla Atlantic" port, scheduled for completion at El Argoub by 2028, also serves Rabat's goal of cementing its grip on Western Sahara after US President Donald Trump recognised its sovereignty over the territory in 2020. Morocco's regional rival Algeria backs the Polisario but has seen its relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger fray in recent months after the downing a Malian drone. Military coups over the past five years have seen the three Sahel states pivot towards Russia in a bid to restore their sovereignty and control over natural resources after decades within the sphere of influence of their former colonial ruler France. French troops were forced to abandon their bases in the three countries, ending their role in the fight against jihadists who have found sanctuary in the vast semi-arid region on the southern edge of the Sahara. After both the African Union and West African bloc ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on the new juntas, Morocco emerged as an early ally, with Niger calling the megaproject "a godsend". "Morocco was one of the first countries where we found understanding at a time when ECOWAS and other countries were on the verge of waging war against us," Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said in April during a visit to Rabat alongside his Malian and Burkinabe counterparts. The Sahel countries established a bloc of their own -- the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) -- in September 2023 but have remained dependent on the ports of ECOWAS countries like Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. Rising tensions with the West African bloc could restrict their access to those ports, boosting the appeal of the alternative trade outlet being offered by Rabat. Morocco has been seeking to position itself as a middleman between Europe and the Sahel states, said Beatriz Mesa, a professor at the International University of Rabat. With jihadist networks like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group striking ever deeper into sub-Saharan Africa, the security threat has intensified since the departure of French-led troops. Morocco was now "profiting from these failures by placing itself as a reliable Global South partner", Mesa said. Its initiative has won the backing of key actors including the United States, France and the Gulf Arab states, who could provide financial support, according to specialist journal Afrique(s) en mouvement. But for now the proposed trade corridor is little more than an aspiration, with thousands of kilometres (many hundreds of miles) of desert road-building needed to turn it into a reality. "There are still many steps to take," since a road and rail network "doesn't exist", said Seidik Abba, head of the Sahel-focused think tank CIRES. Rida Lyammouri of the Policy Center for the New South said the road route from Morocco through Western Sahara to Mauritania is "almost complete", even though it has been targeted by Polisario fighters. Abdelmalek Alaoui, head of the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Intelligence, said it could cost as much as $1 billion to build a land corridor through Mauritania, Mali and Niger all the way to Chad, 3,100 kilometres (1,900 miles) to the east. And even if the construction work is completed, insecurity is likely to pose a persistent threat to the corridor's viability, he said. Morocco is building economic ties with several countries in the Sahel, including those that experienced military coups in recent years AFP Thousands of miles of road still need to be built as part of the project AFP
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Visit of Prime Minister to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia (July 02 - 09)
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will undertake a visit to Ghana from July 02-03, 2025. This will be Prime Minister's first ever bilateral visit to Ghana. This Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana is taking place after three decades. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks with the President of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss further avenues to enhance it through economic, energy, and defence collaboration, and development cooperation partnership. This visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the African Union. In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad&Tobago, H.E. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister will pay an Official Visit to Trinidad&Tobago (T&T) from July 03 - 04, 2025. This will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit at the Prime Ministerial level to T&T since 1999. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks with the President of Trinidad&Tobago, H.E. Christine Carla Kangaloo, and Prime Minister H.E. Kamla Persad-Bissessar and discuss further strengthening of the India-Trinidad&Tobago relationship. Prime Minister is also expected to address a Joint Session of the Parliament of T&T. The visit of Prime Minister to T&T will impart fresh impetus to the deep-rooted and historical ties between the two countries. In the third leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of Republic of Argentina, H.E. Mr. Javier Milei, Prime Minister will travel to Argentina on an Official Visit from July 04-05, 2025. Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Milei to review ongoing cooperation and discuss ways to further enhance India-Argentina partnership in key areas including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. The bilateral visit of Prime Minister will further deepen the multifaceted Strategic Partnership between India and Argentina. In the fourth leg of his visit, at the invitation of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister will travel to Brazil from July 5-8, 2025 to attend the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 followed by a State Visit. This will be Prime Minister's fourth visit to Brazil. The 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro. During the Summit, Prime Minister will exchange views on key global issues including reform of global governance, peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action, global health, economic and financial matters. Prime Minister is also likely to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit. For the State Visit to Brazil, Prime Minister will travel to Brasilia where he will hold bilateral discussions with President Lula on the broadening of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people to people linkages. In the final leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister will embark on a State Visit to Namibia on July 09, 2025. This will be the first visit of Prime Minister to Namibia, and the third ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Namibia. During his visit, Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with President Nandi-Ndaitwah. Prime Minister will also pay homage to the Founding Father and first President of Namibia, Late Dr. Sam Nujoma. He is also expected to deliver an address at the Parliament of Namibia. The visit of Prime Minister is a reiteration of India's multi-faceted and deep-rooted historical ties with Namibia. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ghana, Argentina, Brazil and more: PM Modi on 5-nation tour; what's on his agenda?
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister is set to embark on a historic multi-nation tour from July 2 to July 9, marking a series of firsts and revitalizing India's global partnerships. The tour will see the PM visiting Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, with a focus on enhancing bilateral relations and participating in the Brics summits. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ghana: First PM visit in 30 years; focus on trade, energy, and defence Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ghana on July 2-3 will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, reflecting the importance of this West African nation in India's foreign policy. The visit aims to bolster economic, energy, and defense collaborations, as well as development cooperation. Discussions with Ghanaian President will focus on strengthening ties and enhancing India's engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union. Trinidad & Tobago: Strengthening historical ties Continuing his tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Trinidad & Tobago from July 3-4, marking the first Prime Ministerial visit to the Caribbean nation since 1999. Invited by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Modi will engage in talks with both the President and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. The visit is expected to rejuvenate the deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries, with Modi addressing a Joint Session of the Parliament. Argentina: Expanding strategic partnerships On July 4-5, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Argentina, where he will meet President Javier Milei. The visit aims to enhance cooperation in defense, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, and trade. This visit is poised to deepen the strategic partnership between India and Argentina, reflecting a commitment to mutual growth and collaboration. Brazil: Brics Summit and state visit PM Modi's visit to Brazil from July 5-8 will be marked by his participation in the 17th Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The summit will address global governance reforms, climate action, and economic matters. Following the summit, PM will engage in a State Visit to Brasilia, where discussions with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will focus on broadening the strategic partnership in trade, defense, and technology. Namibia: Reaffirming historical ties On his last leg of the tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Namibia on July 9, marking his first visit to the country. The visit will include bilateral talks with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and a homage to Namibia's Founding Father, Dr. Sam Nujoma. PM Modi's address at the Namibian Parliament is set to reiterate India's commitment to its historical ties with Namibia.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
PM Modi to embark on 5-nation tour in July, attend BRICS summit in Brazil
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a five-nation tour in July 2025, beginning with a two-day visit to Ghana on July 2-3. This marks his first bilateral visit to the country and the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana in over three the visit, PM Modi will hold talks with the President of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and explore avenues to enhance collaboration in economic, energy, defence, and development sectors. The visit aims to strengthen India's engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Ghana, the Prime Minister will travel to Trinidad and Tobago from July 3-4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. This will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first Prime Ministerial-level bilateral visit to T&T since 1999. PM Modi will meet with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss deepening bilateral relations. He is also expected to address a Joint Session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The visit is expected to boost the historical and cultural ties between the two the third leg of the tour, PM Modi will visit Argentina from July 4-5, where he will hold bilateral talks with President Javier Milei. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. The visit is expected to further strengthen the multifaceted Strategic Partnership between India and Minister Modi will then head to Brazil from July 5-8 to attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, followed by a State Visit. This will be his fourth visit to the BRICS Summit, he will engage in discussions on key global issues such as global governance reform, peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action, global health, and financial Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. In Brasilia, he will meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to broaden the Strategic Partnership across sectors like trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, and the final leg of the tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Namibia on July 9, at the invitation of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. This will be his first visit to Namibia and the third-ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to the will hold bilateral talks with President Nandi-Ndaitwah and pay homage to Namibia's Founding Father, the late Dr. Sam Nujoma. PM Modi is also scheduled to address the Namibian Parliament. The visit aims to reaffirm India's longstanding and multi-dimensional ties with Namibia.- EndsTune InMust Watch
