Casablanca — Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita represented King Mohammed VI at the 11th summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Malabo, emphasizing Morocco’s growing role in South-South cooperation across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. As the guest of honor, Morocco’s participation highlights its commitment to this regional bloc, which celebrated its 50th anniversary during the summit. The event, themed “A renewed and transformed OACPS in a changing world, “brought together heads of state, government officials, and international partners, witnessing the presidency transition from Angola to Equatorial Guinea.
Addressing the summit, Bourita stressed that Morocco’s engagement in Africa is strategic and irreversible, based on partnership rather than assistance. He cited King Mohammed VI’s 2017 speech at the African Union summit, emphasizing Morocco’s approach to sharing resources without ostentation. Bourita highlighted concrete figures, noting that since 1999, Morocco has signed over 1,607 cooperation agreements, many during 52 royal visits across Africa.
In education, nearly 19,400 students from OACPS countries are currently studying in Morocco on scholarships, with more than 40,220 graduates trained. Additionally, Morocco supplies fertilizers to Caribbean countries and donated around 200,000 tonnes of fertilizers to Africa in 2022, with another 364,000 tonnes sold at preferential prices.
The Foreign Minister also discussed large — scale projects led by the King, such as the Atlantic African Gas Pipeline and initiatives to provide Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to convert geographic constraints into economic opportunities. Bourita outlined three pillars guiding Morocco’s cooperation: developing local potential, building tailored partnerships, and focusing on human impact and sustainability. He called for the OACPS to act as a collective voice in shaping a more balanced global order, advocating for fair climate governance and stronger economic security. Morocco, he said remains committed to sharing its experience and working closely with partners to build a more interconnected and multipolar world.
Source: Morocco World News
