Dakhla to Host Morocco-Caribbean Community Forum

Rabat – Morocco’s southern city of Dakhla is set to host the Morocco-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) forum later this year, Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita announced on Wednesday.

With the participation of 14 African states, the Morocco-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) forum aims to provide a framework to consolidate cooperation between Caribbean states on regional issues, Bourita explained.

During a joint press release with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Cooperation of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, Bourita pointed out that Morocco is “proud” to see the Republic of Suriname chair the CARICOM forum scheduled for July.

The Moroccan official also said he hoped that the event would mark a new milestone in bilateral cooperation between Morocco and the Republic of Suriname.

During the press conference, the Moroccan FM drew attention to the news of the Republic of Suriname opening a Consulate General in Dakhla, underscoring the significance of the event as it reflects the South American country’s unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

In 2009, Caribbean states started shifting their stance on the Western Sahara dispute to support Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces. As of this month, 12 out of the 14 countries in the Caribbean region recognize Western Sahara as Moroccan territory, noted Bourita.

The current political climate offers immense opportunities for Morocco and the Caribbean nations to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of the CARICOM forum, he added.

Earlier this year, a group of Caribbean countries announced the opening of a joint general consulate in Western Sahara, in a show of support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

The consulate would represent six Eastern Caribbean countries, mainly Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint-Kitts and Nevis, Saint-Lucia, and Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines.