UN Peacekeeping Chief Meets Top Moroccan Military Commander

Rabat – Morocco and the United Nations reaffirmed their strategic partnership for peace during a meeting today between the Chief of Staff of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and Inspector General of the FAR, Commandant of the Southern Zone, and Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Peace Operations.

Hosted under the auspices of the directives of King Mohammed VI, the meeting brought together senior FAR military officials and followed up on Lacroix’s talks the previous day with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

At the end of his meeting with Bourita on Wednesday, the Secretary-General commended Morocco for its substantial contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts, stressing that the country was one of the UN’s strongest partners in global peacekeeping.

With Morocco ranking as the tenth-largest contributor to UN missions, currently deploying a total of 1,718 police and military personnel across ongoing missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, the meeting underscored the nation’s unwavering commitment to international peacekeeping efforts.

Lacroix’s meetings with high-ranking Moroccan officials held immense significance as it reinforced Morocco’s pivotal role in international peacekeeping. Notably, the UN official lauded the North African country’s multifaceted contributions to UN missions, describing Moroccan participation in UN missions as a testament to its dedication to upholding the principles of global harmony and stability.

The cordial exchange between the UN delegation and the Moroccan military leadership showcased a shared commitment to collaboration and the pursuit of common goals in the realm of peacekeeping.

This first-ever visit by the Under-Secretary-General is poised to deepen the existing partnership between the United Nations and Morocco in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The encounter will serve as a platform for exchanging perspectives on further enhancing the efficacy of peacekeeping operations in the global arena.

Known for having chaired the Non-Aligned Movement’s coordinating group on UN peacekeeping in New York for many years, Morocco’s steadfast support for multilateralism and its commitment to the United Nations as a cornerstone of its foreign policy has played a substantive role in fostering peace across diverse regions of the world.

The country first took part in peacekeeping operations in 1960, when it deployed a contingent of the Royal Armed Forces as part of the United Nations operation in the Congo.

He was also behind the creation of a group of like-minded states to combat hate speech and disinformation against peacekeepers.