AU Official: Morocco, leader committed to peace, security in Africa

Morocco is a leader on a long-term commitment to peace, security and stability in Africa, Special Representative of the Head of the African Union Commission (AUC) for Somalia, Mohamed El- Amine Souef, said in Abidjan on Friday.

“I salute Morocco’s leadership and its commitment to peace, stability and security on the African continent, even before the independence of several African countries”, El-Amine Souef, who is also head of the African Union’s transition mission in Somalia, told MAP on the sidelines of his participation in the 15th AU High-Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa.

“Morocco has been and remains a pioneer on these issues throughout the continent,” he said, noting that the Kingdom is at the forefront of facilitating dialogue between African countries and strengthening the processes of social cohesion, whether through diplomatic or development tools.

For Mohamed El-Amine Souef, “there can be no peace and security in the abscence of development, and Morocco, through various bodies including the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), is providing the African continent with many instruments to preserve peace, security and stability and promote the desired socio-economic development.”

In this vein, he noted that many African executives have benefited from training in various fields at Moroccan institutes and universities, deming that investment in human resources is of greater importance.

“In addition, Morocco is making colossal efforts to promote the development and prosperity of the continent, as reflected in investments made in several African countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire”, he said, noting that these investments and the presence of the Moroccan private sector in a number of African countries illustrate the Kingdom’s commitment, under the enlightened and wise leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, to a stable and prosperous continent.

Through the African Union, “we were also priviliged to work alongside a number of prominent Moroccan personalities and executives who are committed to peace on the continent, and who are working to settle some unresolved crises such as in Sudan”, he stated.

“This means that Morocco is present both inside and outside the African Union, which can only be beneficial”, he said, welcoming the Kingdom’s full involvment in this drive for solidarity and prosperity for Africa.

“When Morocco intervenes with various African countries, sometimes far from its geographical location as in East Africa, it is fully committed to ensuring greater peace, development and security”, he explained, noting that the Kingdom “has no personal interests of its own, but all it seeks is peace and stability on the African continent”.

Highlighting that the African continent is facing a number of problems, including crises linked to climate change, terrorism and immigration, as well as purely political and security crises, he deemed it essential to act together to offer adequate and appropriate responses.