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Morocco was elected by acclamation on Friday to the presidency of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), representing the African Group for a one-year term starting May 12.
Ambassador Mohamed Basri, Morocco’s envoy to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW, will serve as chair of the organization’s central decision-making body.
His election followed unanimous backing from the Group of African States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as support from all member states on the Executive Council.
This marks the second time Morocco assumes the presidency of the Executive Council, having previously held the position in 2021-2022. The country has also occupied other senior roles within the OPCW, including the presidency of the Conference of States Parties – the organization’s supreme body – in 2017-2018.
Morocco served as vice-chair of the Executive Council on behalf of the African Group in 2025-2026 and held the vice-presidency of the Conference of States Parties in both 2023-2024 and 2025-2026.
The election reflects Morocco’s sustained engagement with the OPCW and its commitment to the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The country has hosted several conferences and regional training programs focused on chemical safety, the peaceful use of chemistry, and countering chemical terrorism, with participants drawn from African military, law enforcement, and emergency response professionals.
Morocco signed the Chemical Weapons Convention in January 1993 and ratified it in December 1995. The kingdom has never possessed chemical weapons and has fulfilled all its obligations under the treaty.
The OPCW, which has 193 member states, oversees the global effort to eliminate chemical weapons. Since the convention entered into force in 1997, all declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed under the organization’s verification. The OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its work in eliminating chemical weapons.
MWN with MAP
