Rabat Inaugurates Headquarters of African Capitals of Culture to Boost Continental Cooperation

Rabat– The headquarters of the African Capitals of Culture (CAC) was officially inaugurated on Thursday in Rabat, in an effort to strengthen cultural cooperation across the African continent.

The inauguration ceremony brought together leading figures from the cultural and diplomatic spheres, highlighting Morocco’s growing role in promoting African cultural integration. The establishment of the institution in Rabat comes amid renewed momentum to position culture as a driver of development and unity in Africa.

Speakers at the event emphasized that hosting the CAC headquarters in Morocco reflects the country’s commitment to African cooperation and intercultural dialogue, while also reinforcing the idea of culture as a key pillar of sustainable, inclusive, and pluralistic development.

The ceremony was attended by CAC Committee President Adama Traoré, Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication’s Culture Department Salah-Eddine Abkari, as well as several African ambassadors accredited to Morocco.

In a speech read on his behalf, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid highlighted Africa’s linguistic and cultural richness, noting that the CAC initiative aligns with broader efforts to integrate culture into development models across the continent. 

Bensaid also stressed the need to strengthen Africa’s cultural and creative industries, pointing to the gap between local production and imported cultural content, while underlining the continent’s strong potential driven by its young and connected population.

Adama Traoré, for his part, recalled that the initiative, launched during the 2018 Africities Summit in Marrakech, is founded on the belief that culture is a powerful engine for development and social cohesion. He added that the new headquarters is not merely an administrative structure but a platform for dialogue and cooperation among African cities.

The CAC headquarters will be responsible for supporting host cities, coordinating program institutions, and fostering networks among cultural actors across Africa. It also aims to promote cultural and creative industries, encourage artistic mobility, and enhance the visibility of African heritage within the framework of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.