Morocco strengthens international ties with 27 new cooperation agreements

Morocco's Parliament has unanimously approved 27 international agreements, marking a significant expansion of the country's diplomatic and economic partnerships. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita presented these agreements during a legislative session led by Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami.

The agreements align with King Mohammed VI's vision for enhanced international cooperation, with a strong focus on African partnerships. Twelve of the agreements were established with African nations, covering judicial cooperation, customs, taxation, and economic development.

Nearly half of the agreements concentrate on economic matters, supporting Morocco's strategy of leveraging diplomacy for economic growth. Notably, 11 of 19 bilateral agreements were signed in Morocco's southern provinces in Western Sahara, particularly in Dakhla.

The bilateral agreements span four main categories:

Economic development, including investment agreements with Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, customs cooperation with Burkina Faso and Gambia, and a tax treaty with Cape Verde.

Transportation sector agreements covering road transport with Guinea and Gambia, maritime cooperation with Oman, air transport with Cambodia, and driving license recognition with Italy and Spain.

Sectoral cooperation encompassing fisheries with Gambia, military cooperation with Romania, and civil protection with Burkina Faso.

Judicial assistance, including extradition treaties with Sierra Leone and the Netherlands, prisoner transfer agreement with Burkina Faso, and legal cooperation with Sierra Leone.

Additionally, Morocco ratified eight multilateral agreements addressing institutional matters, including the establishment of an African Development Institute headquarters in Dakhla and initiatives for digital cooperation, maritime biodiversity protection, aviation security, and labor rights.

Bourita emphasized that Morocco's approach focuses on purposeful agreements that serve clear objectives within a long-term strategy, rather than simply accumulating international partnerships.