The Atlantic Initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the Sahel is an ambitious and innovative strategy that aims to promote shared peace, stability and prosperity in the African Atlantic region. Launched in 2022 as part of the Rabat Process of the African Atlantic States, this initiative is of crucial importance in a context where the region faces significant challenges, such as terrorism, climate change, maritime insecurity and overfishing.
At the heart of this strategy is the overarching objective of enabling African countries to take charge of their own development process. Indeed, the African Atlantic coast brings together 23 countries and 70% of the continent’s population, while concentrating 40% of inter-African trade. Such potential cannot be fully exploited without close and mutually beneficial cooperation between the various actors in the region.
It is essential to emphasize that the Atlantic Initiative is based on concrete actions in key areas such as security, the blue economy, connectivity, energy and climate change. These action plans, which will be developed at upcoming ministerial meetings, aim to strengthen cooperation and establish effective mechanisms to address common challenges.
The importance of international cooperation and partnership between the different initiatives in the Atlantic region cannot be underestimated. Indeed, Morocco, as leader of the Atlantic Initiative, is actively committed to strengthening dialogue and collaboration with other countries in the region, with the aim of fostering shared prosperity and stability.
Furthermore, the support of the United States for this initiative is crucial to its success. By co-leading, alongside Angola and Spain, the Working Group on Marine Spatial Planning, Morocco demonstrates its commitment to a concerted and inclusive approach to overcome the common challenges of the Atlantic region.
In conclusion, the Atlantic Initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the Sahel represents a real hope for the region, by offering a strategic and global vision to address current challenges and promote sustainable development. Through enhanced cooperation and sustained commitment, the countries of the region will be able to work together to build a better and more prosperous future for all.