Morocco and the member states of the Mano River Union, namely Côte d'Ivoire, the Republic of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, inked a roadmap in New York on Monday, aimed at bolstering partnership relations in various fields.
The agreement, which covers the 2025-2027 period, was initialled by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his peers Kacou Houaja Leon Adom (Côte d'Ivoire), Morissanda Kouyate (Guinea), Sara Beysolow Nyanti (Liberia) and Musa Timothy Kabba (Sierra Leone).
Inked on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the roadmap pertains to education and vocational training, technical cooperation in priority sectors and the field of security, economic and investment promotion, as well as financial assistance.
“The Kingdom of Morocco and the member states of the Mano River Union are bound by strong, long-standing ties of brotherhood and solidarity. Bonds of friendship, mutual respect and a shared vision for a prosperous, secure and emerging Africa unite King Mohammed VI and the leaders of the Mano River Union”, the text of the cooperation agreement between the parties reads.
In a statement to the press following the signing ceremony, the Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the “strong and fruitful” cooperation between Morocco and the Mano River Union, expressing his country's determination to strengthen this partnership and put its provisions into practice.
For her part, the Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs praised Morocco's constant support for countries of the Mano River Union, and its willingness to share expertise and know-how in several fields to bring development and prosperity to this part of the continent. It is a step forward in deepening cooperation relations between the Kingdom and this regional bloc, she said, praising Morocco's leadership, embodied in the Royal Atlantic Initiative.
In the same vein, his Guinean counterpart spoke of a symbol of inter-African cooperation and a partnership for brotherhood, lauding Morocco's support for Africa under the leadership of His Majesty the King.
For his part, the head of Sierra Leone's diplomacy stated that this roadmap was a “very important” step towards consolidating the long-standing relationship between Morocco and the Mano River Union countries.
It is time, he said, to pursue efforts to realize common values and achieve shared prosperity.
Under this roadmap, implemented by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), the Kingdom is committed to sharing its experience and best practices with the Mano River Union countries.
Referring to the progress achieved by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, the roadmap highlights that Morocco has put in place several strategic plans in various development fields such as vocational training, agriculture, water, fisheries, tourism and renewable energies to accelerate progress and contribute to the diversification of its economy.
Under the terms of the agreement, the parties agree to pursue regular visits to support bids and exchange views on common multilateral and regional issues, notably through high-level meetings of foreign ministers and senior officials.
The signing ceremony was attended by Morocco's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Omar Hilale and Ambassador and Director General of AMCI Mohamed Methqal.
