From one year to another, Morocco is strengthening its lines of cooperation with the African continent, with the realization of several projects in various sectors. Since its return to the African Union (AU), Morocco has redefined its relations with the countries of the continent in the wake of a renewal of its diplomatic strategy. Today, to materialize this new dynamic, several development projects are implemented within the framework of a win-win partnership as declared by King Mohammed VI.
In the economic sector, Morocco ranks first in the list of African investors in West Africa, so it ranks second in Africa. A typically Moroccan dynamic perspective at the economic level characterizes the Moroccan economic process in Africa, it is a regional diplomacy which results in conventions and agreements, which the kingdom signs with its African partners, in particular sub-Saharan countries, in different sectors, in this case the banking, industrial, phosphate, telecommunications, energy sectors, etc.
Morocco is present in more than 30 African countries in 2019, the country in 2009 was only present in 9 countries on the continent. Côte d’Ivoire holds the largest share of Moroccan investment with more than 21.4% in 2019, followed by Chad which occupies second place with 19.8%, thus Senegal takes 14.7% of Moroccan investment, knowing that the total flow of Moroccan investments in Africa is 55.5%.
On the economic level in Africa, a promising directive characterizes the Moroccan vision, the goal is to strengthen the African position in the world, with the realization of projects with a strong character such as the Gas pipeline project held between Morocco and Nigeria, it is is a set goal to move forward with Africa. The reason why Morocco is an active player in several of the African Union’s projects, such as the one concerning the new African Continental Free Trade Area (zlecaf).
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Morocco has made investments in Africa, with more than 6.8 billion DH in 2019, knowing that the same figure of investments was only 3 billion dirhams in 2009. Thus registering an increase compared to the last ten years. The period of 2009-2019 recorded an average annual growth rate equal to 8.3%. The average share of investments that characterized the period of 2009-2019 is 59.5%.
Morocco operates with its neighborhood within the framework of South-South cooperation which occupies a crucial position in the Moroccan action plan. It is in this sense that Morocco has several traditional partners. However, Moroccan-African relations are constantly developing, aiming to establish homogeneous links between sub-Saharan countries and African Arab-Muslim countries.
Staying in the same vein, the kingdom not only establishes cooperation in the economic and political sectors, but also at the level of religion and culture with its great continent, by implementing projects that can strengthen the religious sector. cultural.
It is in this sense that King Mohamed VI, created the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ouléma, which focuses on the consolidation of the religious and cultural ties that bring together the kingdom and its African neighborhood, as well as to allow cooperation between the Ouléma Moroccans and Africans, which will allow the reinforcement of the principle of tolerance, preservation of values and religious cultural principles.
However, Morocco’s political strategy after reintegration into the AU seeks to consolidate the relational approach in culture, through the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI). Not only that but also the Moroccan kingdom carries out projects to stimulate the spiritual character in Africa, which could materialize with the creation of the Mohammed VI foundation of African Ulemas.
In this respect, in the heart of the spiritual and scientific capital Fez, is the headquarters of the foundation with other headquarters in several African countries. The latter ensures and reinforces tolerant Islamic values. The kingdom also values academic positioning in Africa, with the Mohammed VI Institute for the training of Imams, morchidines and morchidates, which according to a report trained more than 1,070 students in 2019, the trainees come from nine countries, it is It should be noted that the institute welcomes a number of African students each year.
Morocco and African countries have common links and values, so history bears witness to these common links. The projects initiated by Morocco with its African brothers guarantee the strengthening of the relationship between the two parties, “It is an initiative that reflects the depth of the spiritual ties that have always united the sub-Saharan African peoples to the King of Morocco, Amir Al -Mouminine, peoples to whom we are linked by the unity of faith and rite and by the community of civilizational heritage. as mentioned in the full text of the Speech delivered by HM King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, on the occasion of the installation ceremony of the Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas, in Fez.
Morocco reaffirms its African roots through several areas of cooperation