Eurasia Review
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI
Morocco’s King Mohammed and the presidents of Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire have reaffirmed the strength of the Moroccan and African security, economic and religious relationship. King Mohammed arrived in Senegal on March 15, beginning a one week African trip and discussions about prospects to give Morocco and these African countries a powerful and new impetus to cooperation in various fields. King Mohammed received a full ceremonial welcome in Dakar and Abidjan.
Across this region, the winds of change bring both promise and peril. So King Mohammed’s visit is seen as an opportunity, to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between Morocco and other African nations, to re-state Morocco’s unwavering commitment to Africa’s security and boost its economy.
The presidents of two countries that King Mohammed visited unanimously confirmed the need for a strategic alliance that has become greater than ever amid unpredictable changes in Africa. Morocco, through this royal visit, continues to seek peace, security and prosperity in the African continent.
In an unstable and uncertain sub-Saharan Africa the need for a strong alliance is greater than ever. It is the key to thwarting dangers to advancing peace. It’s the key to achieve a stable and secure and prosperous Africa that the Africans yearn for all and with all their hearts.
This unique Moroccan strategy was on display during the king’s tow-country jaunt. Projects are underway, spearheaded by Morocco, to electrify 550 villages along the Senegal River and bring affordable medicine to fight cholera, malaria, and diarrhea diseases to Africa’s poorest countries. At the same time, the king held brass tacks talks on boosting security cooperation—and in Senegal, the monarch convened a gathering of moderate Islamic leaders to talk about strengthening their role in providing an alternative to extremist ideologies. This royal visit confirms morocco’s keen interest to promote peace and prosperity in the African continent.
In fact, since his rise to the throne in 1999, King Mohammed has put the African continent among his top foreign policy agenda. He has visited many African countries launching socio-economic projects that seek to promote social development of Africans and at the same time offering opportunities for Africans to learn from Moroccan know-how to promote their economies.
Morocco, as has been stated by many international economic institutions, could become an economic and trade platform for African countries to reach out to Europe and the United States. Europe and America’s strong economic, political, and security ties to Morocco and strong economic, political, and security interests in greater Africa need to come together. It can be an economic boom at a time when a windfall is badly needed, and a boost to global security at a time when concerns about terror on the African continent are growing.
