Bourita: “Morocco-Sierra Leone relations have undergone remarkable developments in recent years”

Hibapress

Relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Sierra Leone have undergone remarkable developments in recent years under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, affirmed, Tuesday in Rabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita.

In a statement to the press following his talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Timothy Musa Kabba, Mr. Bourita indicated that Morocco and Sierra Leone are linked by a friendship and a strong brotherhood which reflect the quality of historical relations between the two countries.

He underlined, in the same context, that Morocco and Sierra Leone have a cooperation roadmap which “reflects the ambition of the leaders of the two countries to strengthen sectoral cooperation”, noting that this roadmap highlights implemented since 2021 runs until the end of the year.

Mr. Bourita recalled, in this regard, the holding, last year in Dakhla, of the 3rd session of the Morocco-Sierra Leone Joint Commission during which the two countries agreed on the importance of agriculture and food security as key areas for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

He also mentioned the holding by his Sierra Leonean counterpart of a meeting with representatives of the private sector to discuss their contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.

After noting that trade between Morocco and Sierra Leone has “almost doubled in recent years”, Mr. Bourita recalled the opening of diplomatic missions in the two countries, like the Consulate General of Sierra Leone. Leone in Dakhla and a diplomatic representation of Morocco in Sierra Leone.

On the other hand, Mr. Bourita welcomed “the positive and important role” that Sierra Leone plays this year as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, highlighting the efforts that this African country continues to deploy to carry the voice of the continent within this UN body.

The minister added, in this regard, that Sierra Leonean diplomacy, under the leadership of HE President Julius Maada Bio, has always been based on a base of principles, notably clarity and defense of territorial integrity and of the national sovereignty of countries.

Mr. Bourita wanted to thank the Republic of Sierra Leone for its “constant position concerning the question of the Moroccan Sahara, expressed on April 16 during a meeting of the UN Security Council, in favor of territorial integrity and the national sovereignty of Morocco over its southern provinces.

Sierra Leone “plays an important role with regard to the initiatives of HM King Mohammed VI in favor of Africa, including the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic”, noted Mr. Bourita, recalling the participation of the Republic of Sierra Leone at a meeting organized in Rabat in this regard over the past two years.

The minister underlined, in this regard, that Sierra Leone is concerned by the Nigeria-Morocco-Europe Gas Pipeline project, as well as by the Royal Initiative aimed at promoting access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, which are all important and structuring royal initiatives in which West African countries, including Sierra Leone, play a major role in their implementation.

“Relations between Morocco and Sierra Leone are based on solidarity as desired by His Majesty the King,” he added, noting that the Kingdom has repeatedly given substance to this positive and constructive solidarity with the Sierra Leone particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and during the floods which affected this country.

Mr. Bourita praised the solidarity shown by Sierra Leone in defending Morocco’s interests and its priority issues, both continentally and internationally.

Relations between the two countries are very positive and developed, and are based on solidarity and mutual interests (win-win). They are guided by the firm desire to make it a model for relations between two African countries based on mutual respect in the service of the interests of the two peoples, in accordance with the vision of the leaders of the two countries, noted the minister.

Mr. Bourita stressed the need to schedule the holding of a new session of the Morocco-Sierra Leone Joint Commission, while recalling the importance of activating communication channels and consolidating bilateral sectoral cooperation through exchanges. visits between ministers of the two countries.