Rabat – Mamadou Tangara, the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, praised the International Initiative led by King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Ocean initiative.
The initiative aims to facilitate Atlantic Ocean access for Sahel countries and garnered commendation for its potential to address the crises affecting the region.
The Gambia foreign minister made his remarks in a joint press conference following the conclusion of the 3rd session of the Morocco-Gambia Joint Cooperation Commission.
The event was co-chaired by Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad.
During the meeting, the minister emphasized the collaborative efforts aimed at finding solutions to the challenges in the Sahel region.
King Mohammed VI originally announced the initiative during his speech marking the 48th anniversary of the Green March in November last year.
The monarch emphasized that Sahel countries cannot solely address the issues they face through security and military measures. Instead, these issues require an approach grounded in cooperation and shared development.
Central to the initiative is the commitment to enhance infrastructure in the Sahel, enabling the seamless connection of countries to existing transport and communication networks in the region.
This strategic move is poised to lay the groundwork for regional economic prosperity, aligning with King Mohammed VI’s vision for cooperative and development-focused solutions to the Sahel crises.
Reflecting on the visit of King Mohammed VI to Gambia in February 2006, wherein eight cooperation agreements were signed, the Gambian diplomat noted this initiative to be as a distinct manifestation of the Kingdom’s commitment to fortifying bilateral relations and aiding Gambia in its developmental endeavors.
On matters of security, the minister conveyed his admiration for Morocco’s leadership, reaffirming his country’s dedication to collaborating with the Kingdom to foster stability in the region and invigorate bilateral relations.
The Gambian minister has also commended Morocco’s assistance to Gambians by awarding 100 scholarships, to enhance developmental capabilities in the country.
Within this framework, he emphasized the high quality of these training programs, and their role in empowering Gambian human resources to actively contribute to shaping a promising future.
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