King Mohammed VI Positions Atlantic Africa as a Key Player in Global Economic Dynamics

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His Majesty King Mohammed VI delivering the Royal Speech on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Green March. Image from X/@MoroccoInTHA

  • His Majesty has initiated a concrete approach to allow the nations of the Sahel to access the Atlantic Ocean

  • Aims to stimulate the economic development of 23 countries by facilitating trade and commerce

Map of the Atlantic Coast Countries of Africa. Image by Kimberly A. Riskas

His Majesty King Mohamed VI of Morocco delivered an iconic speech on the 48th anniversary of the Green March, highlighting critical issues related to economic development, regional cooperation and security in Africa, more particularly in the region bordering the Atlantic coast. The speech has since gained attention and support of the African Union’s legislative body, among other institutions.

The Royals’ speech highlighted a notable deficit in infrastructure and investment along the Atlantic coast, despite the abundance of natural resources and the presence of highly qualified human capital. This observation underscores the immediate necessity for significant investments to maximize the full potential of the region.

At the heart of the speech was a call for international cooperation to address these challenges. The strategic Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project was presented as a concrete example of collaboration aimed at promoting regional integration, boosting joint economic growth, and serving the development objectives of the coastal nations of the Atlantic Ocean. This initiative is also part of guaranteeing energy supplies for European countries.

While prioritising security, stability and prosperity, His Majesty recommended the creation of an institutional framework that will bring together the twenty-three African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean in promoting these imperatives. He affirmed that the problems and difficulties faced by neighboring nations in the Sahel region cannot be resolved solely through security and military measures, but require an approach based on cooperation and shared development.

In a similar context, Morocco expressed its desire to make its road, port and railway infrastructure available to neighboring nations, stressing that this initiative could lead to a fundamental transformation, not only of the economies of these countries, but also of the whole of the region.

This dynamic initiated by the Kingdom of Morocco will lay solid foundations for the creation of more robust African value chains, unlocking the industrial and creative potential of the continent, and contributing to a medium and long-term improvement in development indicators in Africa. In a broader perspective, Morocco could reactivate the gold route (the ancient Sijilmassa route) and make it a logistics hub linking Europe to Atlantic Africa, the Sahel and the Sahara.

It is all the more important to note that the speech of His Majesty King Mohamed VI highlighted the crucial importance of regional cooperation, economic development and security for the Atlantic coast region of Africa. He proposed pragmatic solutions and international initiatives to resolve problems and promote shared prosperity. The speech thus laid the foundations for a bold vision for the future of the region, emphasizing cooperation and mutual development.

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