Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, announced that he and his Senegalese counterpart agreed on Monday to encourage weekly visits between the ministers of the two countries, as well as to hold the joint high committee between their heads of government soon, in preparation for the meeting between the two leaders, King Mohammed VI and Senegalese President Bassio Doumbia Faye.
This came during a press conference held by Minister Bourita and the Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, following the signing of the joint statement, where Bourita affirmed that “this visit by Minister Niang to Morocco is one of the first visits since his appointment to his position in mid-September, which demonstrates the depth and strength of the bilateral relations that are constantly developing,” under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and Senegalese President Bassio Doumbia Faye.
The Moroccan government official stressed that this visit represents for the King “the benchmark relationship within Moroccan relations with African countries,” noting that this West African country has received nine royal visits, and was the only one to host a speech by the King outside the Kingdom.
Bourita emphasized that this relationship is based on “solid foundations and very strong humanitarian, religious, economic, and security ties, unparalleled between Morocco and any other African country.” Therefore, “this visit is important; it will allow us to translate the aspirations of the two countries’ leaders for these bilateral relations.”
In this regard, the Moroccan Foreign Minister announced that he and his Senegalese counterpart had agreed, in accordance with the directives of the two countries’ leaders, to “encourage bilateral sectoral visits, so that visits between the ministers of the two countries will take place almost weekly.”
The agreement also included “holding the joint high committee soon between the heads of government of the two countries, which will form the starting point for signing the existing agreements,” and will also be the starting point for preparing for the meeting between King Mohammed VI and the Senegalese President, and will form “an occasion to sign and announce the new strategic directions in bilateral relations, which will give a new horizon in view of the ambitions of the two countries and the many mutual opportunities.”
Bourita stressed the “strong presence of the Moroccan private sector in Senegal”, and that “the opportunities available are numerous and can be developed further.”
Regarding diplomatic engagement, the Moroccan government official explained that both countries are “important regional players, possessing influence, a role, and credibility within their respective regional spheres.” Therefore, the King has “always been keen to ensure Senegal’s active participation in all the initiatives he has launched.” He added that the West African nation “has a significant role in Atlantic initiatives, given its position as a pillar of stability and development, and is called upon to play an even greater role in this regard.”
He elaborated that Senegal “has a role in facilitating access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, given the strong relations it has with these countries,” and continued: “It is also a key player in the Atlantic Gas Pipeline, as a gas-producing country, and a pivotal country through which this structuring project will pass, and it has a basic vision of it.”
Bourita pledged that the two allied countries “will coordinate more in continental and international forums, given their converging views on regional and international issues.”
