Rabah Writes: Moroccan-African Cooperation: From Security to Food – The Lesson of Ethiopia
As years pass and African elites and policies change, Moroccan-African cooperation is strengthening, and it is evolving and expanding steadily, especially after the Kingdom’s return to African institutions and the adoption of a new African policy under the leadership of His Majesty the King.
Bilateral and multilateral agreements have emerged, advancing beyond traditional cooperation to the stage of building strategic partnerships that impact the African reality and solidify our country’s African identity. The foundation of this is maintaining the three pillars of sovereignty, unity, and security for states to counter plans of division, internal and external conflicts, and foreign infiltration.
The ultimate goal of these Moroccan-African partnerships is to achieve sustainable development in all its cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions, based on strategies and programs aimed at the optimal exploitation of African human and natural potential.
This Moroccan-African partnership covers all priority areas and concerns more than 25 African countries, mostly in West and Central Africa. This partnership has been enhanced by the Kingdom’s launch of the Atlantic African Initiative through Dakhla, aimed at providing logistical empowerment for the African economy, especially for the Sahel countries.
In recent years, Morocco has moved to develop partnerships with East African countries, led by Ethiopia. The recent visit of the Ethiopian military delegation to Morocco to enhance military cooperation was a significant step in this direction.
It will positively influence bilateral relations and confront one of the most important current and future challenges, through cooperation between the two countries in agriculture and by benefiting from Ethiopia’s pioneering experience in grain production.
Ethiopia, which suffered from famine for a long time, achieves self-sufficiency in many food products, especially grains, and is now moving towards export by adopting a firm policy based on achieving food sovereignty first and foremost.
From security to food, and through health, education, employment, youth, family, and water, African lions can achieve what Asian tigers have accomplished and more.
Indeed, the Moroccan-Ethiopian partnership adds a significant dynamic in this direction, especially as the Kingdom faces the challenge of food scarcity and high prices. Ethiopia serves as an example for those who reflect.
Aziz Rabbah
