Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to boost bilateral efforts in the areas of environment and sustainable development.
The signing of the agreement took place in Rabat during an official visit from Arlette Soudan-Nonault, the DRC’s Minister of Environment.
The agreement outlines cooperation in areas such as environmental governance, strategic environmental assessments, and climate change mitigation—focusing on nationally determined contributions. The agreement also covers resource management, biodiversity conservation, the green and blue economy, wastewater treatment, and integrated waste management.
The visit also served as an opportunity to review the progress in operationalizing the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC) and the Congo Basin Blue Fund (F2BC). The review is part of preparations for organizing a donor roundtable, and the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the CBCC, as well as the CBCC’s participation in COP29.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, who co-signed the agreement, noted the importance of the partnership in a statement to the press.
Benali stated that “it is especially important for the exchange of experiences and strategies between the two countries in the areas of environment and sustainable development, particularly in climate finance, to attract more funding to the African continent, specifically to Morocco and Congo.”
She added that the meeting also provided an opportunity to work on various issues related to waste recycling and the green and blue economy.
She further emphasized that partnerships between African countries allow the development of projects that strengthen energy transition.
Meanwhile, Soudan-Nonault stated that “the memorandum will further strengthen cooperation with Morocco in environment and sustainable development,” noting that it covers several areas of mutual interest, such as combating the effects of climate change, biodiversity, and the green and blue economy.
For the Congolese Minister, the agreement represents the effective operationalization of the work of the Congo Basin Climate Commission and marks a significant step in their joint efforts to prepare for COP29.
The CBCC is one of the three African climate commissions created during the 1st African Summit for Action towards a Continental Co-emergence. The commissions were launched by King Mohammed VI.