Atlantic: Rabat Process Member States Laud Morocco’s Initiative, Leadership

25 September 2024 Printable Version

United Nations (New York) - Member countries of the Rabat Process on the African Atlantic States (AASP) praised, in New York, Morocco's initiative and leadership in creating this coordination framework, which will help find appropriate solutions to mutual challenges.

Speaking during a Ministerial Meeting of the Atlantic African States Process held on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, several Foreign Ministers from countries involved in the process hailed the relevance of this initiative, launched in 2022 in line with the vision of HM King Mohammed VI to make the Atlantic African space a zone of peace, stability and shared prosperity.

During this meeting, chaired by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, participants also welcomed the launch of this important partnership which constitutes a framework for coordination and collaboration, and enables member countries to pool their efforts.

They also expressed their firm commitment to bringing this initiative to fruition, to make the Atlantic an area of peace, stability and prosperity, and a framework for promoting the blue economy, connectivity and renewable energy.

Speaking on this occasion, Bourita welcomed the significant progress achieved by the process, which has consolidated its institutional and programmatic foundations, adding that this meeting marks an important step towards consolidating this partnership.

The Minister also noted the “strategic importance” of the Atlantic space, home to 46% of Africa's population, 55% of Africa's GDP and 57% of continental trade, making it “an area of mobility and cross-fertilization, harboring enormous resources, both biological and non-biological.”

Bourita also highlighted Morocco’s conviction that only collective and collaborative action by the Atlantic African States can “promote stability and shared prosperity in our region,” adding that pooling efforts of these States enables us to meet the multiple challenges of the Atlantic African area, and take advantage of its enormous opportunities for cooperation.

Welcoming the meeting of AASP Justice Ministers held in Rabat last April, the Minister noted that this first sectoral meeting had given rise to the Forum of Justice Ministers, paving the way for a multi-sectoral Atlantic African partnership.

The meeting in New York was attended by Foreign Ministers from Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Liberia and Senegal.