Rabat — Morocco’s diplomatic approach under King Mohammed VI centers on action and concrete results rather than empty rhetoric, the country’s permanent representative to the UN said Saturday.
Morocco’s Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale outlined this vision during a keynote address at the 5th annual MD Sahara Forum in Dakhla, where diplomats and officials gathered to discuss Moroccan diplomacy’s role in African peace, stability, and cooperation.
“Royal diplomacy demonstrates an unshakeable conviction: nations achieve greatness through their ability to build the future together, and solidarity forms the foundation of a more just and equitable world order,” Hilale told the forum.
Building trust over suspicion
Hilale described Morocco’s diplomatic philosophy as one that “bets on trust rather than mistrust, on cooperation rather than isolation, on sustainability rather than opportunism, and on human dignity rather than domination.”
This approach draws from Morocco’s historical position bridging the Atlantic and Sahara, connecting the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe, he said.
The 50th anniversary of the Green March offers a chance to reflect on this remarkable trajectory, Hilale added. The Green March symbolizes a diplomatic philosophy that combines historical legitimacy, national unity, and positive self-affirmation without negating others.
Morocco is in line with the UN’s three pillars of action
Hilale structured his argument around the UN Charter’s three founding pillars, namely development, human rights, and peace and security.
On development, Morocco views inclusive growth as a driver of national stability and regional cooperation. “Development cannot be transmitted — it must be created together,” Hilale said.
He outlined Morocco’s investments in renewable energy, infrastructure modernization, human development, and economic openness as elements of a forward-looking national project. The country’s diplomacy serves as a strategic lever for this expansion through concrete partnerships, particularly with African countries and developing states.
On human rights, enshrined in Morocco’s 2011 Constitution, the country pursues a multidimensional diplomacy encompassing humanitarian action, institutional cooperation, knowledge sharing, spiritual dialogue, and security engagement.
This “ethic of coherence” allows the North African country to transform its local experience into universal standards, especially in Africa, where the country launches educational, religious, social, and security initiatives to contribute to lasting stability.
On peace and security, Hilale stressed Morocco’s comprehensive reading of security challenges. Terrorism, trafficking, humanitarian crises, conflicts, and environmental degradation are not isolated phenomena but symptoms of deep fragility, he said.
This requires rethinking security beyond its military dimension to integrate food, energy, climate, and human concerns.
Seeking greater UN role
Morocco will run for the presidency of the UN Peacebuilding Commission starting in January, Hilale announced. This responsibility would bring an authentic African perspective to UN processes and more faithfully reflect the continent’s priorities, he argued.
This commitment also shows in the North African country’s positions at the Security Council, where it voices African concerns “with the strength of lived experience, the authority of concrete engagement, the credibility of those who don’t just deplore crises but act to prevent them.”
The recent Security Council Resolution 2797, combined with the Green March’s 50th anniversary, illustrates Morocco’s ability to unite and anticipate, Hilale said.
The 5th MD Sahara Forum opened Friday in Dakhla under the theme “50 Years of the Green March: National Unity and Continental Ambition.”
