Mohamed Ould Errachid said Wednesday that upper chambers of African parliaments play a growing role in strengthening democracy and preserving peace across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of a conference of the Association of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa in Rabat, the speaker of House of Councillors said the discussion reflects “increasing awareness” of the importance of these institutions beyond their legislative functions.
He said upper chambers contribute to improving legislation and public policy by ensuring greater alignment with real-world constraints and enhancing their effectiveness over the medium and long term. They also provide broader representation that integrates territorial, social, economic and professional dimensions into public debate, helping manage differences and strengthen social cohesion.
“These roles give upper chambers a central place within constitutional systems because they are closely linked to broader challenges, including consolidating democracy and creating the political and institutional conditions necessary for development and peace,” he said.
Ould Errachid emphasized that democracy and peace are interconnected, arguing that both are reinforced when parliamentary institutions improve their representative capacity.
He also highlighted Morocco’s engagement in Africa, led by King Mohammed VI, which he said promotes a model linking development and stability.
According to the speaker, Morocco has carried out more than 50 royal visits to African countries and signed hundreds of strategic agreements, advancing a renewed approach to South-South cooperation based on investment, knowledge transfer and balanced partnerships.
Recalling a 2024 meeting in Yamoussoukro, Ould Errachid said African parliamentary leaders had explored how to move from nationally focused legislative bodies toward a more integrated parliamentary space capable of coordinating efforts on shared challenges.
That discussion led to the creation of the association as an institutional framework for consultation, experience-sharing and coordination among upper chambers across Africa, he said.
He added that a midterm meeting in Brazzaville further demonstrated the group’s growing momentum and commitment to strengthening African parliamentary action in response to the continent’s evolving challenges.
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