Morocco and Mauritania strengthen archival collaboration with landmark agreement

Morocco and Mauritania have formalized a significant partnership in archival preservation through a newly signed cooperation agreement. The accord, signed at the Moroccan Archives Foundation headquarters in Rabat, establishes a framework for bilateral efforts in collecting, processing, and enhancing public archives, particularly those tied to shared history and cultural exchanges.

A unified effort in preserving shared heritage

The agreement was signed by Latifa Mouftakar, Director of the Moroccan Archives Foundation, and Mohamed Mokhtar Sayed Mohamed El Hadi, representing Mauritania's National Documents Office. It emphasizes professional training, digitization, conservation center management, and historical research, aiming to make archives more accessible to the public.

The partnership also includes regular technical exchanges, joint scientific publications, and cultural events to highlight archives' role in shaping national narratives.

Broader regional implications

This agreement reflects a broader commitment to regional collaboration. Mauritania, which has similar agreements with countries like Algeria, Tunisia, Turkiye, and Portugal, focuses on archival preservation as a means of fostering cultural diplomacy. The move also highlights the improving bilateral relations between Rabat and Nouakchott, marked by recent high-level discussions between King Mohammed VI and President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Strategic projects, such as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, further strengthen the economic ties between the two nations. Both Morocco and Mauritania play crucial roles in regional integration due to their geographic and political positions, particularly in addressing security challenges in the Sahel-Saharan region.

The role of the Moroccan Archives Foundation

Founded under Law No. 69.99, the Moroccan Archives Foundation is a key institution tasked with preserving Morocco's documentary heritage. Recognized as a strategic entity since 2012, its mission includes conserving national records, facilitating access for research and cultural purposes, and promoting international cooperation in archival sciences.

This new agreement underscores the importance of archives as tools for historical preservation and knowledge-sharing, reinforcing mutual understanding and collaboration between Morocco and Mauritania.