Niamey – The Morocco-Niger Joint Committee called, in a joint statement on Thursday in Niamey, for promoting cooperation between the two countries to a strategic partnership.
The Joint Committee was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Morocco’s Foreign Minister Saad Dine El Otmani and his Nigerien counterpart Mohamed Bazoum.
The two officials stressed the excellent relations between their respective countries and voiced willingness to add new momentum to the bilateral trade and economic ties.
In this respect, the two Ministers called on the private sector in Morocco and Niger to grab the opportunities offered in the two countries’ markets. They also called for the setting up of a Morocco-Niger business council.
At the diplomatic level, El Otmani welcomed Niger’s unwavering stand concerning the Sahara issue.
The Joint Committee, in this respect, was an opportunity for Nigerien officials to reiterate their country’s stand in favour of UN efforts to find a political solution to the Sahara issue.
The two officials also examined the situation in Africa, especially issues pertaining to peace and stability in western Africa and the Sahel and Sahara region. In this regard, they expressed concern over the surge of arms, human and drug trafficking in the Sahel and Sahara region and agreed to foster cooperation between their security forces to face the new threats.
The two parties also expressed commitment to the values of dialogue to reach a peaceful settlement of disputes and voiced resolve to endeavour to ensure stability in this part of the African continent.
They also condemned the acts aiming at undermining the constitutional order in Mali and Guinea Bissau and called for a restoration of democratic legality in the two countries.
The two officials also strongly rejected the proclamation of the state of the Azawad by the Tuareg MNLA movement and reaffirmed their support for Mali’s territorial integrity.
In this respect, El Otmani reiterated Morocco’s support for the efforts led by the CEDEAO to ensure peace and stability in western Africa and called for the return of the refugees to their homeland.
El Otmani recalled that Morocco is very concerned by the threats emanating from the Sahel and is closely following the situation in the region.
Bazoum, for his part, expressed the gratitude of the Nigerien people to HM King Mohammed VI for the humanitarian aid that was sent to Niger.
The Nigerian official also highlighted the commitment of HM the King to promote consultation as a means of settling conflicts in Africa and hailed Morocco for its steady efforts within the UN and for its support for the CEDEAO.
He also voiced hope to see Morocco join the African Union.
On Africa’s social and economic development, the two parties stressed the need for bolstering south-south and inter-African cooperation with a view to promoting sustainable development in the region.
The two parties also agreed to hold the next session of the Morocco- Niger Joint Committee in Rabat.
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