Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita received Burundi’s Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro today, who is on a six-day working visit to the North African country. The FMs discussed their countries’ deep and growing bilateral ties and expressed their mutual desire to strengthen cooperation.
In a joint statement, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to “develop, intensify and diversify their cooperation in several areas.” Meanwhile, Bourita vowed to share Morocco’s “know-how and expertise in socio-economic, human, and cultural development” with the fellow African country.
The pair expressed their willingness to establish an “ambitious and fruitful” cooperation in key sectors, including agriculture, energy, vocational training, health, finance, and mining, the source noted.
Meeting between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and Burundi’s Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro
The two ministers highlighted the potential that the private sector in the two countries possesses, “given the mutually beneficial economic potential available” to them, the statement added. In this regard, Bourita and Shingiro urged investors and economic operators to “seize the opportunities offered in the various economic sectors.”
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Emphasizing the need to strengthen political dialogue between Morocco and Burundi, the two diplomats pledged to hold regular political consultations on bilateral, regional, and international issues of common interest.
In this regard, the two ministers signed two agreements; one on the establishment of a Joint Cooperation Commission, as well as a diplomatic visa exemption agreement, or Special Issuance Passports (supplied for government officials).
The two parties also vowed to mutually support Morocco and Burundi’s candidacies at both the regional and international levels. Shingiro expressed his country’s “firm and unequivocal” support for Morocco’s candidacy to secure a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term.
Western Sahara dispute
The meeting was an opportunity for Shingiro to reiterate his country’s support and “attachment” to Morocco’s Autonomy Plan regarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara. “The principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national unity” are among Morocco and Burundi’s shared values, he said.
Burundi’s Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Nasser Bourita
Burundi stressed the centrality of Resolution 2602, the latest UN Security Council resolution on the Sahara dispute, as the basis to reach a “lasting, pragmatic, and realistic” solution.
Shingiro also hailed the efforts made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his Personal Envoy Staffan De Mistura to relaunch the political process to resolve the Sahara dispute.
Meanwhile, Bourita extended his thanks to Burundi for their “clear” position regarding the Sahara dispute.
