HIBAPRESS
The municipalities of Smara and Amgala signed, today, Friday, in the city of Smara, twinning agreements with a number of international cities, in a move to enhance South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, and to consolidate the role of Smara as a laboratory for African integration.
These agreements, which were concluded within the framework of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Glorious Green March, and which were attended by the Governor of the Smara region, Ibrahim Boutoumilat, aim to exchange best practices, unify efforts, and promote a renewed vision for territorial governance.
Thus, the municipality of Smara signed agreements with the cities of N'Djamena (Chad), Niamey (Niger), Agadez (Niger), Timbuktu (Mali), Porto-Novo (Benin), Banjul (Gambia), and Vijayawada (India).
For its part, the municipality of Amgala officially signed twinning agreements with Kaolack (Senegal), Parakou (Benin), and Brikama (Gambia).
The final touches are currently being put on other agreements with American and Senegalese cities, pending the completion of the necessary administrative procedures to formalize them.
The Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, welcomed, in a statement to the press, the conclusion of this agreement, describing it as a source of pride for her and the residents of the Gambian capital.
She affirmed that the residents of the two municipalities share a similar culture and traditions, highlighting Morocco's efforts to enhance African cooperation and strengthen ties between the peoples of the continent.
For his part, the Mayor of Agadez, Almustapha Asarid, pointed out that his city, like the city of Smara, is characterized by the same climatic characteristics, adding that the signed agreement will allow them to benefit from the experience of this Moroccan city in managing desert areas.
He emphasized, in this context, that this agreement will contribute to strengthening trade, cultural, and tourism exchanges between the two cities.
In turn, the mayor of Amgala, Fatima Seyda, pointed out that the partnerships that have been signed will directly benefit the signatory municipalities and their residents.
In this regard, she welcomed the official launch of the Smara International Club for Twinning Cities, considering that this new cooperative structure will facilitate the exchange of experiences between the partner municipalities.
The signing of these agreements comes on the sidelines of the official launch, last Thursday, of the Smara International Club for Twinning Cities, which is a new platform for cross-border cooperation and decentralized diplomatic dialogue.
This club is a consultation framework that aims to promote territorial diplomacy, South-South cooperation, and international solidarity, while seeking to make the southern regions a lever for the economic, social, and diplomatic radiance of the Kingdom.
An international coordination council will oversee the management of this club, consisting of elected officials representing the twinning municipalities, partner institutions, and experts in international law for local communities.
(MAP)
