Ouahbi calls for the creation of a justice network in Atlantic African countries

Hibapress

The Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi called, Monday in Rabat, for the creation of a network or a permanent forum on the justice system in Atlantic African countries.

Speaking at the opening of the first Forum for South-South cooperation between Atlantic African countries in the field of justice, in the presence of the King’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, El Hassan Daki , and the First President of the Court of Cassation and Deputy President of the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ), Mohamed Abdennabaoui, Mr. Ouahbi indicated that this network will constitute a platform for permanent communication and exchange of expertise between the justice bodies of these countries, which will help to build strong and lasting ties.

This network will have a central role in the adoption of legislation and the creation of institutions and support mechanisms, in line with African reality, capable of “strengthening our common understanding of our legal and judicial systems”, a- he noted.

In this sense, Mr. Ouahbi indicated that the proposal of this network comes in accordance with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to make the Kingdom a partner of several African countries, committed, mobilized and determined to face the challenges of peace, security and development throughout Africa.

In this regard, the minister recalled the Speech of His Majesty the King on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the glorious Green March, in which the Sovereign affirmed: “If through its Mediterranean facade, Morocco is firmly anchored to the Europe, its Atlantic side opens up complete access to Africa and a window onto the American space. Furthermore, Mr. Ouahbi stressed that this meeting “constitutes the implementation of the Rabat I Declaration of the Afro-Atlantic series, dated June 8, 2022,” noting that this is a great appreciation for the strong historic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and these Member States, through which the path of justice will be strengthened by the consolidation of ties of cooperation and integration in order to strengthen peace, security, stability and common prosperity in the region.

For his part, the Ambassador, Director General of Bilateral Relations and Regional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Fouad Yazourh stressed that the Forum of African Ministers of Justice serves as a framework for consultation and coordination in legal matters, adding that it charts the path for pooling the efforts of African countries in the Atlantic and constitutes a model of partnership, south-south cooperation, dialogue and consultation, on the basis of a progressive and solid approach.

The Atlantic region, he continued, offers enormous potential for Africans in terms of stability, connectivity and co-development, recalling in this regard the Royal Initiative for African Atlantic Countries aimed at make the African Atlantic space a zone of stability, peace and shared prosperity.

This meeting marks the maturity stage of this process, he said, noting that it is a question of “entering into a dialogue with our neighbors in Latin America and South America”.

This forum aims to monitor current trends in cooperation in areas related to justice and to plan future mechanisms according to a coordinated and global approach aimed at confronting the challenges faced by African countries at the interface. Atlantic, with a view to combating terrorism and transnational organized crime through the exchange of information, experiences and good practices in this area, combating maritime piracy and promoting a culture of human rights.

It also aims to attract investments and protect the economy, support legal and judicial initiatives aimed at ensuring a balance between sustainable development and environmental protection and strengthen international judicial cooperation mechanisms. The work of this Forum, which saw the participation of ministers of justice and senior officials from numerous African countries bordering the Atlantic front, was marked by the adoption of the Rabat Declaration, a reference document which defines the road to strengthen cooperation within the framework of this process, in order to create an Afro-Atlantic space for the consecration of justice, security and human rights.