Moroccan Ambassador Sees Bright Future For Africa

Morocco’s diplomatic aspirations toward the African continent, its institutions, and its people are and must be directed toward the creation of an “Emergent Africa”, Moroccan ambassador to South Africa Youssef Amrani told English-speaking news outlet “The Star”.
In the article entitled “Morocco’s Grand Vision for Africa”, Amrani said that Africa is viewed by Morocco as a top priority, “a place where our diplomacy can be strategically entrenched.”
The Ambassador pointed out that the Africa Morocco envisages is a concept, a necessity, and a goal, adding that Africa has geopolitically the capacity to play a role in stabilizing the constantly-shifting global imbalance.
He added that Africa is a political force rather than a consumer market and it has strong objectives, and different socioeconomic realities, as it sustains growth on the continent and beyond.
Amrani referred to the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and SADC, which are different because they have successfully achieved uniformity and homogeneity in their diplomatic goals.
He mentioned that Morocco invested some $3 billion since 2008, making it the largest African investor in West Africa and one of the two largest investors in Africa overall, which is evidence of Morocco’s steadfast commitment to facilitating Africa’s integration.
Morocco’s collective efforts concentrate on advancing social justice, democracy, and human development, with the main demand being to increase the number of employment prospects for young people.
Morocco has steadfastly supported an ambitious, inclusive, and structured pan-Africa, and since the Casablanca summit in 1961, it has maintained its commitment to the continent’s unity, added Amrani.
He also recalled that the Moroccan Foreign Ministry recent hosting of the ministers of African Atlantic nations in Rabat to boost South-South collaboration by fostering African solidarity and togetherness, in addition to the role of the Europe-Africa Atlantic Corridor, a gas pipeline project between Morocco and Nigeria.
Morocco’s strategy extends beyond the provision of phosphates and fertilizers, to include broader farmer assistance and training, soil preservation, and the development of agricultural industry synergies, he affirmed.
Amrani also mentioned that the recent agreement between Morocco and Nigeria, to develop an investment platform for $1 billion, is a strong signal by the Moroccan government of its commitment to agricultural development in Africa.
The Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) is also a significant and innovative mechanism for cooperation in the development of African talent. Between 1999 and 2019, the AMCI helped 23 000 individuals from 47 African nations graduate, 20 000 of whom were given scholarships by the kingdom to study in Morocco.