The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal emphasized, on Monday in Rabat, the need to maintain regular dialogue between the two brotherly countries in order to further develop bilateral relations, consult on regional and international issues, and ensure regular monitoring of the implementation of commitments made.
In a Joint Communiqué adopted at the end of the 15th Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission, co-chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko, both parties highlighted the atmosphere of fraternity and mutual understanding that marked the work of this commission, enabling a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and identify new opportunities for strengthening it.
Thus, in economic and trade terms, both parties highlighted the decisive role played by Moroccan and Senegalese private sectors in developing and enshrining economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as in promoting bilateral trade and encouraging new investment, within the framework of strengthening the historic strategic partnership between Rabat and Dakar.
In this regard, they invited the private sector in both countries to actively contribute to boosting and reinforcing economic exchanges and partnerships, and called on the Economic Impulse Group to meet at a date to be agreed through diplomatic channels, with a view to giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
With regard to cooperation in the field of infrastructure, both parties welcomed the major projects underway in Morocco and Senegal, and agreed to work together to promote synergies between the two countries.
With this in mind, they reiterated the importance of establishing a monitoring mechanism and mutually beneficial operational cooperation between port facilities, particularly between Tanger-Med and the Autonomous Port of Dakar on the one hand, and between the New Port of Dakhla and those of Ndayane and Bargny on the other.
In the field of industry, they agreed to develop measures aimed at encouraging investment and bilateral industrial partnerships through the integration of their respective value chains and the creation of close ties between sectors that offer industrial complementarity and guarantee shared competitiveness.
With regard to the mining, energy, and hydrocarbon sectors, both parties welcomed the progress made on the Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, a symbol of South-South cooperation, while emphasizing that Senegal will play a key role in its first phase.
They also opted to strengthen bilateral partnership with a view to developing renewable energies, promoting the implementation of electricity access projects, strengthening industrial capacities, and promoting the local development and processing of mineral resources.
Concerning higher education, research, and innovation, they welcomed the dynamism of structured cooperation through bilateral agreements, institutional initiatives, and inter-university partnerships, and convened to work toward strengthening and diversifying this cooperation through various actions to be identified through mutual agreement.
On the consular front, both parties welcomed the active role played by their respective communities in bringing the two brotherly peoples closer together and fostering interaction between them. In this regard, they undertook to continue and step up their efforts to facilitate the establishment, stay, and socio-economic integration of their nationals, in accordance with the Convention on Establishment, signed in Dakar on March 27, 1964.
The two sides also welcomed the signing, during this session, of a memorandum of understanding establishing a mechanism for consular consultations and agreed to hold the first meeting of the bilateral joint consular commission in Morocco in 2026, on a date to be agreed upon by mutual accord.
In the field of sports, and with a view to the Youth Olympics scheduled to take place in Dakar in 2026, both parties agreed to continue their ongoing partnership to ensure the success of this major event, to be held for the first time on the African continent.
They also agreed to strengthen coordination and to continue to support, in a concerted and mutual manner, their respective candidacies at the regional and international levels.
Regarding the Atlantic African States Process and the significant opportunities for synergy and cooperation between the States concerned, they emphasized the importance of coordination and consultation in order to make the Atlantic African space an area of co-emergence, stability, and shared development in strategic areas such as the environment, food security, health, energy, logistical interconnection, resource pooling, and the exchange of experiences.
With regard to His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s Initiative to grant landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic, both parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue consultations with all the States concerned, with a view to implementing the initiative within the framework of an inclusive and mutually beneficial partnership.
In other areas of cooperation, including tourism, agriculture, ICT, hydraulics, security and justice, maritime economy, transport, and logistics, they reaffirmed their shared willingness to further their cooperation ties in a spirit of consultation, solidarity, complementarity, and mutual benefit.
In addition to the Minutes, the session, held in an atmosphere of fraternity and cordiality, culminated in the signing of 17 legal instruments.
On the sidelines of the session, the two Heads of Government chaired the Senegal-Morocco Economic Forum, which enabled the private sector of both countries to establish contacts and discuss investment opportunities on both sides, according to the Joint Communiqué. It then states that the Senegalese Prime Minister also held a working session with OCP Group officials on prospects for cooperation in the field of phosphate mining, and met with Moroccan economic operators already established in Senegal.
At the conclusion of the 15th Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission, both parties welcomed the results of this important meeting, which helped examine and identify various joint cooperation projects and actions to be carried out with a view to breathing new winds in the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Joint Communiqué states that both parties have agreed to hold the 16th Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission in Dakar, at a date to be determined by mutual agreement through diplomatic channels.