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Rabat – Mauritania plays a crucial role in bringing to life the Royal initiative aimed at facilitating access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, said the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita on Monday.
King Mohammed VI first announced the initiative during his speech on the 48th anniversary of the Green March. In particular, the monarch had explained that problems facing the countries of the Sahel “will not be solved by security and military measures alone, but rather by an approach based on cooperation and shared development.”
The initiative depends on upgrading infrastructure in the Sahel to allow the countries to connect to transport and communication networks that exist in the region, paving the way for regional economic prosperity.
Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita with his Mauritanian counterpart
According to Bourita, King Mohammed VI sees Mauritania as a fundamental actor in this initiative.
He emphasized the significance of Mauritania’s participation during a press briefing with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug.
Ould Merzoug is on a visit to Morocco to deliver a letter from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
Bourita described the relations between Morocco and Mauritania as “unique and historical,” rooted in blood ties, and geographical proximity.
The Moroccan minister stressed the importance of the bilateral ties, which he said are of special significance to King Mohammed VI.
He pointed out that King Mohammed VI is committed to developing these relations on all fronts, citing the ongoing support for Moroccan-Mauritanian relations in the king’s instructions and directives.
Referring to a recent phone call between King Mohammed VI and President El Ghazouani, Bourita highlighted the leaders’ emphasis on the uniqueness and importance of Morocco-Mauritania’s bilateral relations.
During the phone call, King Mohammed VI acknowledged the Mauritanian president’s role in supporting stability and development in Mauritania, positioning the country as a stabilizing force in the Sahel region and West Africa.
On the diplomatic front, Bourita noted that the mechanisms governing Moroccan-Mauritanian relations are operating “positively.”
Morocco and Mauritania’s Flags side by side
He recalled the Joint High Committee meeting in March 2022, which resulted in the signing of various agreements and significant outcomes. The minister emphasized that King Mohammed VI aspires to push the bilateral relations to their full potential, given their historical and human dimensions.
Bourita said discussions with his Mauritanian counterpart covered regional issues. He praised the positive dynamics of Mauritanian diplomacy, attributing it to the Mauritanian president’s role, credibility, and trustworthiness in dealings with partners. Mauritania, he noted, has become a crucial component in any stability equation in the region.
Bourita further pointed out that Mauritanian students in Morocco are at the forefront, both in terms of numbers and scholarships. This reflects the continuous communication and human ties between the two peoples, particularly among the youth benefiting from training in Morocco, he argued.
On the economic front, Bourita commended the highly developed nature of economic relations between Morocco and Mauritania. Currently, Morocco stands as Mauritania’s top trading partner in Africa and its first African investor.
According to Bourita, Morocco’s ambition is to elevate these economic relations to other strategic dimensions, setting a model for neighboring relations between two countries with all the qualifications to build an inspiring model of cooperation in various situations and contexts.
