Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger and Mali hailed the “noble initiative” and the “crucial role” played by the Moroccan chairship of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) in bringing about informal consultations with these countries, as well as with Guinea and Sudan.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, Burkina Faso’s head of diplomacy, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, acknowledged the crucial role played by the Moroccan chairship of the AU-PSC, hailing “this new leadership” at the head of the Council and above all “the Kingdom of Morocco’s touch, based on the promotion of constructive dialogue informed by realism and mutual understanding.” While marking a new chapter in the age-old friendship between the two countries, Traoré’s letter resonates far beyond the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), constituting international recognition of Morocco’s leading role in establishing peace, security and sustainable development on the continent, in line with Morocco’s African policy, deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s political choices under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI.
For their part, the heads of diplomacy of Gabon, Michel Régis Onanga M. Ndiaye, and Niger, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, also hailed the Kingdom’s “noble initiative” and its approach to promoting dialogue on the continent, which “confirms Morocco’s importance and place in the political arena of Africa, and even beyond,” thanks to the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, hailed this “welcome initiative by the highest authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco,” as well as the Kingdom’s active solidarity.
He also stated in his letter that this important meeting finally enabled countries in political transition to present to the AU’s main body responsible for continental peace and security the vision of their respective authorities, the progress made, the challenges encountered and the legitimate expectations of their populations, who expect greater solidarity and support from the pan-African organization.
Morocco, which chairs the AU-PSC for the month of March, convened informal consultations with Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan in Addis Ababa on March 18.
These exchanges provided an opportunity for the ambassadors of these countries to interact with the PSC and report on the progress of the democratic transition process in their respective countries.
Thus, Morocco demonstrated its active and supportive commitment to these six countries, to help them speed up their respective transition processes, based on the foundations of democratic institutionality advocated by the AU, and ultimately accelerate the process of their full reintegration into the African fold.
Driven by a deep sense of responsibility and an unwavering commitment to the unity, peace, stability and progress of the African continent, the Kingdom of Morocco, in its capacity as PSC Chair, convened these informal consultations, which are fully in line with the Council’s mandate as defined by its Protocol, in particular Article 8, paragraph 11, which provides for the holding of informal consultations with the parties concerned by a situation under its consideration, whenever required.
By implementing this key provision of the Protocol, the meeting convened by the Moroccan chairship aimed to strengthen dialogue with States in political transition, to listen to them and to explore together the best means of fostering stability, peace and their return to constitutional order, thus paving the way for their full reintegration into the AU.
The meeting also marked an essential step in strengthening dialogue between countries in political transition and AU institutions, identifying avenues of convergence and reinforcing inter-African cooperation for lasting peace and stability.
This initiative by the Moroccan presidency of the AU-PSC towards these friendly countries is guided by a multidimensional approach, rooted in cooperation and solidarity, in order to identify sustainable solutions tailored to the specific contexts of each country.