Washington – The return of Morocco to the African Union (AU) is “the natural outcome of King Mohammed VI’s tireless commitment to enhancing Morocco’s strong ties in Africa,” wrote former American ambassador to Morocco Edward Gabriel for Washington DC-based paper The Hill.
The former diplomat praised the King’s efforts to strengthen ties to the African continent, calling the Moroccan monarch “adamant about unity,” a leader who “knows the challenges faced by Africa (and the rest of the world).” In his letter, he stressed that Morocco’s recent readmission to the African Union demonstrates the country’s will to “build a safe, solidarity-based future” for Africa.
He pointed out that since King Mohammed VI’s 1999 ascension to the throne, Morocco has signed almost a thousand bilateral and multilateral agreements with other African countries, nearly double the amount signed between 1956 and 1999. Moreover, he wrote, Morocco is the second largest investor in the continent, with “one in two African loans” processed by a Moroccan bank.
Positioning Morocco as an educational as well as economic hub, he applauded the country’s plan to “share its know-how and work together with neighboring states,” noting that “thousands of Africans from across the continent study at Morocco universities every year.”
“As Morocco claims its place as a major player in Africa,” the former ambassador wrote, “I hope that Western powers grappling with the same issues can recognize the deeper significance of this latest development: that with cooperation and unity comes strength.”
