Kick-off of Conference of Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committees in African Parliaments on "African Parliamentary Cooperation in Light of the Present Challenges"

The Seat of the House of Representatives hosted on Thursday, July 6, 2023, the opening sitting of the Conference of the Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committees in African Parliaments on "African Parliamentary Cooperation in Light of the Present Challenges," organized by the House of Representatives with the participation of the Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committee in African Parliaments, parliamentarians, and world experts and researchers.

At the onset of the Conference, which extends to Friday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, gave an address where he highlighted "the magnitude of the challenges Africa faces, and their aggravation amidst a context of increase and reproduction of successive international crises." In the same respect, the Speaker stressed the "imperative of finding parliamentary spaces for a debate not restrained by the regulations of the thematic institutional conferences we hold within the scope of multilateral parliamentary organizations."

Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami also underscored the importance of a "higher level of preparedness and mobilization to defend the interests of Africa, at a time when continental and national egoisms are increasing in other continents, as concretely evidenced amidst the Covid-19 pandemic." In the same vein, he shed light on the list of challenges that Africa faces, including "the resurgence of internal conflicts in several countries of the continent, and food security."

Besides, the Speaker of the House of Representatives called for adopting an approach of cooperation, moving towards the future, and consolidating solidarity and just partnership while relying on history, its morals, and its dynamics, and drawing lessons from wars and crises.

For his part, the Head of the Department of the Grand Maghreb and the Affairs of the Arab Maghreb Union and African Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Hassan Boukili, participating on behalf of the Minister, noted that the Conference falls within the scope of the accelerating and impactful international geostrategic changes to the abilities of Africa, its economy, and its efforts to reinforce security and peace, entrench the process of democratic construction, and consolidate governance.

Mr. Hassan Boukili also stressed that "Africa has all the material and human resources it needs to meet the challenges of security and peace, and to play an active role on the global stage. In this context, the Kingdom of Morocco, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him, has always been committed to the positive dynamics of Africa. This wise royal vision is put into practice through intense diplomatic action and strengthening cooperative ties."

Speaking at the same event, the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee, Rep. Nadia Bouaida, shed light on Morocco's African strategy and policy. In this context, she noted that it is a policy sponsored by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him, by making South-South cooperation, particularly between African states, a sincere strategic choice.

Rep. Nadia Bouaida added that as part of this win-win cooperation, His Majesty the King paid official visits to more than 30 African states. These visits have led to concluding over 1,000 agreements in various fields, aimed at consolidating our sense of belonging to Africa, and raising integrated and mutually supportive cooperation based on a social conviction of the importance of establishing the foundations of collective African awareness.

Rep. Bouaida also recalled the key role of Moroccan parliamentarians, notably within the Foreign Affairs Committee, in supporting the high royal directives calling for the consecration of the vision of integration, solidarity, and synergy between all African countries.

Before the conclusion of the opening sitting, the participants watched a documentary on the important role played by Morocco in supporting the struggles of African peoples against occupation, and its distinguished contribution to the establishment of the first blocks of joint African action, under the leadership of the late His Majesty King Mohammed V and the late His Majesty King Hassan II, may they rest in peace, as well as its ongoing efforts to strengthen South-South Cooperation between African countries, following the wise royal vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him.