Category: Politics

Rabat – e Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Sierra Leone expressed, on Tuesday in Rabat, their full commitment to consolidate, boost and widen the scope of their cooperation, expressing their willingness to conclude a new generation cooperation roadmap for the 2024-2026 period.

In a joint communiqué released following talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Timothy Musa Kabba, Sierra Leone welcomed the cooperation actions undertaken within the framework of the 2021-2023 cooperation roadmap in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, health, renewable energy, and tourism.

Bourita and Kabba also celebrated the strong bonds of brotherhood, solidarity, support, and understanding between the Moroccan and Sierra Leonean peoples, the mutual esteem between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, as well as the shared desire to
make Morocco-Sierra Leone partnership an exceptional model of intra-African cooperation, based on values of solidarity, exchange, and sharing.

Likewise, both parties acknowledged the accomplishments and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the third joint commission held on April 28, 2023, in Dakhla, which reinforced the ambitions of both countries to make further progress and strengthen the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation.

The two ministers also expressed their commitment to implement bilateral agreements aimed at promoting a long-term win-win partnership between the Kingdom and Sierra Leone to explore new horizons to unleash vast potential in economic, social, and cultural realms.

According to the joint communiqué, both parties also expressed their willingness to steer bilateral relations towards shared prosperity and committed to enhancing cooperation in areas prioritized by Sierra Leone such as trade, agriculture, fertilizers, investment, water, fisheries, mining, investment, cu
ltural exchange, capacity building, and tourism, which constitute Sierra Leone’s strategic axes in accordance with the high directives of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio.

Furthermore, the two ministers highlighted the common ambitions and shared objectives of both countries to meet the expectations and vision of the two Heads of State, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, advocating for the reinforcement of their joint action towards an effective partnership, serving progress, development, well-being, and above all, the realization of the common aspirations of two nations.

Moreover, both parties agreed to hold the bilateral cooperation mechanism meeting, co-chaired by the two foreign ministers, during this year, the joint communiqué indicates, adding that the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

Acknowledging the success of the Moroccan business mission to Freetown in January 2024, both parties expressed the willingness to establish a strong economic partners
hip and create an enabling environment to enhance and strengthen their economic exchanges to contribute to economic growth and mutual development.

On the other hand, Bourita extended his best wishes to Sierra Leone for its new mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2024-2025. He emphasized that Morocco remains committed to working together with Sierra Leone to develop a common vision for international peace and security, while rejoicing in the promotion of cooperation to achieve peaceful solutions to international and regional disputes.

Furthermore, Bourita praised the remarkable development that the Republic of Sierra Leone has experienced in recent years under the enlightened leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.

In this regard, he reaffirmed the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to contribute to the efforts made by the government of Sierra Leone through numerous initiatives and positive policies aimed at further stimulating economic
and social development.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Abuja – Morocco’s efforts in combating terrorism were spotlighted in Abuja during the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting held on 22 and 23 April, under the theme “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institutions to Address the Evolving Terrorist Threat in Africa.”

Ismaël Chekkori, Director of Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, discussed the key lessons learned from Morocco’s fight against terrorism and the best practices the country has developed and shared over the years.

“It is vital to anticipate the rapid evolution of the threat, using tools such as accurate assessment, particularly of cross-border movements, detection of the first signals of radicalization, the dynamics of local terrorism, its links with international terrorist groups, and anticipating new trends in terrorism,” explained Chekkori.

Furthermore, Chekkori highlighted that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has implemented a comprehensi
ve and multidimensional response to the terrorist threat. This response embodies an approach involving both the government and society at large.

“This approach aims to strengthen institutional resilience in the security, socio-economic, and religious spheres,” he added.

Chekkori also highlighted the Moussalaha programme as a pivotal component of Morocco’s comprehensive strategy in combating terrorism. He described it as “an initiative specifically designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate former terrorist detainees into society.”

“The success of the Moussalaha programme underscores the importance of addressing the roots of extremism and dealing with its consequences through compassion and sustained community support,” he argued. In this context, he emphasized that “our call for revitalized regional cooperation, grounded in a solid institutional framework, becomes not only relevant but imperative.”

From this perspective, “promoting closer institutional cooperation would effectively contribute to inclusive a
nd collaborative responses tailored to the specific needs of African countries, in line with the principle of ownership,” he elaborated.

Chekkori noted that “Morocco has always been committed to strengthening regional institutional cooperation against terrorism, drawing on the lessons and successes of its national strategy” in this domain.

He underscored Morocco’s dedication in this area, highlighting that “Moroccan security services have shared crucial information, enabling their counterparts in other countries to thwart deadly terrorist attacks and plots.”

On a regional level, Chekkori mentioned that Morocco launched the “Marrakech Platform for Heads of African Security and Counter-Terrorism Agencies” in 2022, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Combating Terrorism (UNOCT).

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – Mediator of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mohamed Benalilou, received, Monday in Rabat, the Irish Ombudsman, Protected Disclosures Commissioner, Ger Deering, who had come to pay him a courtesy call.

During the meeting, which took place in the presence of the Irish ambassador to Morocco, James McIntyre, the two parties examined ways of strengthening cooperation between the two institutions in terms of defending the rights of individuals, institutional mediation and the fields of intervention of Ombudsmen.

They also discussed reinforcing the presence of both institutions in international Ombudsman networks and bodies, including the International Ombudsman Institute, the Kingdom’s Mediator said in a press release.

Deering expressed his admiration for the experience of the Mediator of the Kingdom in the field of mediation and the defense of users’ rights, as well as for the bilateral and multilateral partnership and cooperation relations with counterparts at regional, continental and international levels.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the missions and remits of the two institutions, particularly in terms of defending users’ rights and establishing good governance in public service management, concludes the same source.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Meknes – Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, expressed on Monday in Meknes his country’s willingness to deepen cooperative relations with Morocco in the agricultural sector.

“Morocco and Nigeria have long-standing relations. We are determined to further deepen our bilateral agreements and cooperation protocols,’ Kyari told the press, following a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, on the sidelines of the International Agriculture Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM).

On this occasion, the Nigerian minister said he was impressed by the progress made by the Kingdom in the agricultural sector, noting that the meeting with Sadiki had been fruitful.

Organized until April 28 under the theme “Climate and agriculture: For sustainable and resilient production systems”, the 16th edition of SIAM will see the participation of nearly 70 countries, including Spain as guest of honor, and 1,500 exhibitors.

More than
950,000 visitors are expected to attend this major Moroccan and international agricultural event, which features a rich program of 40 conferences and round tables on crucial topical issues.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – The Republic of Sierra Leone expressed, on Tuesday in Rabat, its full support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, while considering the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the only “credible, serious and realistic” solution to the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

This stance was expressed in a joint communiqué issued following talks between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba.

In the joint communiqué, Sierra Leone’s FM reiterated his country’s firm support to the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, which was reinforced by the opening, in August 2021, of a Sierra Leonean Consulate General in Dakhla and its participation, on January 15, 2021, in the Ministerial Conference in support of the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty, at the invitation of the Kingdom and the United States of America.

In this regard, he expressed his full support for
the UN-led process to reach a realistic, practical and lasting solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia condemned the ongoing and undeterred heinous war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed condemnation of these crimes, the latest of which was the discovery of mass graves in the Nasser Medical Complex in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.

The ministry affirmed that the international community’s failure to activate mechanisms of accountability regarding the Israeli occupation’s violations of international law will only result in further violations and exacerbate humanitarian tragedies and destruction.

The ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s call for the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards stopping the Israeli occupation’s attacks on civilians in Gaza and holding it accountable for the massacres it has committed.

Source: Saudi Press Agency