Morocco Strategic African Approach: South-South Cooperation To Enable Africa To Be Next Economic Tiger?

By Said Temsamani

WASHINGTON – Morocco’s efforts to give the South-South cooperation a face full of solidarity, has resulted in its continued commitment to noble causes of peace and development, as well as its constant position to express solidarity towards the concerns of developing countries, and their aspirations for progress and well-being.

Morocco is also seeking to develop a strategy for tripartite cooperation to channel aid funds made available in the framework of international programs for the financing of infrastructure projects or socio-economic development in African countries and to entrust those projects to Moroccan companies (consultancies, engineering companies, service providers, etc).

Morocco attaches great importance to national education by providing college scholarships to African students. More than 10,000 students pursue their studies each year in universities and schools through scholarships provided by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI).

Morocco has initiated many African countries to triangular cooperation, rich and varied, based on a true partnership and effective solidarity, in addition to cooperation programs implemented bilaterally. It has many advantages and allows many African countries to benefit from the know-how and expertise already experienced in the land of Africa and to overcome the lack of budgetary resources.

Given the multiple benefits of triangular cooperation, Morocco considers that this type of partnership can be a vehicle for supporting the efforts of developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and expresses its readiness to invest with donors and regional donors and international collaboration seeking to achieve tripartite programs for countries in SSA.

Export Morocco spares no effort to promote exchanges between Morocco and many African countries, through participation in international fairs and exhibitions, and the organization of business missions, advising businesses, hosting meetings with economic operators, and finally by sponsoring prospective studies of areas and countries.

Groups Managem Ynna Holding, CCGT and JET Sakane are involved in various sectors: mining, tourism, irrigation, housing and social development. Leading Moroccan banks such as BMCE and Attijariwafa Bank have launched partnerships and signed win-win deals with their African counterparts.

The National Electricity Morocco (ONE) and the airline Royal Air Morocco (RAM) are also present in the African continent. Air and sea links have multiplied and contribute significantly to the problem of intra-transportation within the African continent. RAM has more than 30 airlines in Africa and open regional offices in 11 African countries.

Morocco has always supported the initiatives of the United Nations for the restoration of stability in Africa and has, since 1960 to nowadays, has provided military contingents at the disposal of UN peacekeeping operations in the Congo, Somalia, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire.

In December 2006, Morocco sent a contingent of Royal Armed Forces, consisting of specialists and experts to participate in a demining operation in the Casamance region of Senegal. Morocco has also provided medical field camps in many needy African countries to provide immediate medical assistance.

Morocco will continue to be present in Africa and reinforce south-south cooperation to contribute to the development of the African continent and collaborate with American and European allies to bring peace and stability to this continent.

Three recent items in the Moroccan political news confirms this trend. The first is the Royal decision to attend the inauguration of the new president of Mali Boubacar Keita ( IBK ). A decision, full of significance and political message. King will be alongside French President Francois Hollande , the two largest and most important dubbed this nomination and bless this political transition in Mali.

The presence of Mohammed VI to the investiture ceremony marks the commitment to stability , prosperity and security in the region. French President Hollande had repeatedly stressed that in peacetime , Morocco will play a crucial role in the pacification and reconstruction of the region.

The second Royal initiative was the new immigration policy that King Mohammed has urgently asked the government to elaborate a new policy that will preserve and respect the rights of all immigrants on the Moroccan soil. An initiative that was widely hailed by world leaders and the UN secretary general Ban ki moon.

Morocco Royal diplomacy will continue to reinforce its strong commitment in the African continent to develop bilateral relations with sub-Saharan Africa , through effective contribution to the actions of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, CEN -SAD, and strengthen relationship with the African sub- regional organizations, particularly the African organizations in the West and Central Africa

These three elements highlight the great turning of the Moroccan diplomacy. This will result in a very active return on African land where spiritual and strategic ties that bind much of sub-Saharan Africa to the Kingdom of Morocco . Morocco’s objective is of course to defend its vital interests especially when it comes to rally on its territorial unity but most important is its honest and growing keen interest to give a new impetus to the African political and economic development. A role that the world community would like Morocco to assume and play fully. Above all, that is great news for Africans: As we the world has seen across so much of Asia, economic growth has accomplished what decades of well-meaning development efforts failed to do, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. If that happens in Africa, the world will be transformed.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy