The Royal Initiative's implementation promotes an innovative and integrated approach to strengthen the stability and security of the region as a whole, Madar21 underlines, adding that it is an innovative platform to achieve the kingdom’s economic take-off via its Atlantic coast, while taking into consideration the neighborhood which includes not only Mauritania and Senegal, but also Sahel countries which took part in the ministerial coordination meeting, held last Saturday in Marrakech (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad).
The news portal notes, citing "informed sources", that Morocco's objectives, with regard to Sahel countries, have already been, in large part, achieved with its southern neighbors, particularly Mauritania with fruitful economic relations, notably through trade exchanges between the ports of Agadir, Dakhla and Nouadhibou.
“Mauritania and Senegal did not attend the Marrakech meeting due to their different geographical positions from Sahel countries that do not have access to the Atlantic Ocean,” Madar21’s informed sources say, underlining that "these two countries are strongly involved in the Royal strategy which will integrate them into the new momentum in the region".
Mauritania and Senegal enjoy privileged relations with Morocco and will have a significant presence within the Royal Initiative to strengthen Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean, the same source underlines.
HM King Mohammed VI's international initiative to enable Atlantic Ocean access for Sahel States has the potential to unleash the great potential of coastal partners, thus accelerating growth and the sustainable and inclusive development of regional economies, President of the Moroccan Center for Strategic Studies and International Relations, Mohsen Nadwi, says.
This strategic initiative will therefore contribute to the “take-off of a new, strong and bold Africa, which will defend its own interests and exercise influence on the international stage,” he adds.
Like its Mediterranean coast, the kingdom’s Atlantic coast represents the door to Africa, as well as a window to America via investment in various Atlantic-African projects, in particular the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline, considered as a regional integration project, Nadwi notes.