“A coherent and viable regional response is needed to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel. In this sense, it is important to take advantage of the complementary role of regional mechanisms such as the Accra Initiative, the Nouakchott Process and the Reflection Group on Africa”, reaffirmed the Moroccan delegation during a meeting of the AU PSC on the situation in the Sahel.
Morocco called on the AU Commission, AU Member States as well as the international community to provide the necessary support and support to all countries in transition, in order to support their efforts to bring peace and stability to their respective countries.
The Moroccan delegation insisted that to face the multifaceted challenges facing the Sahel region, it is essential to adopt comprehensive, holistic, integrated and multidimensional approaches aimed at consolidating peace, strengthening security as well as promoting prosperous and sustainable development.
The Moroccan delegation warned against the security crisis which is only exacerbating in the Sahel an already serious humanitarian crisis, noting that almost all the countries of the Sahel are affected by the consequences of climate change, namely drought, water tensions, land degradation and problems of access to water and food, which are at the origin of health and migration problems.
The Sahel is not the exclusive field of anyone where everyone saw being able to settle security threats to the detriment of the interests of the countries of the region, notes the Moroccan delegation, arguing that the solution of the problems of the Sahel zone necessarily passes through the responsibility of the governments of the region.
The Moroccan delegation recalled that the Kingdom was among the first countries to draw the attention of neighboring countries and the international community to the growing threat of criminal activity carried out in the Sahelo-Saharan region by the terrorist groups of Al-Qaida in the country of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and drug trafficking networks.
Thanks to its experience in the field, Morocco has developed in-depth knowledge of the situation in the region and has established regional and international cooperation relations as a credible actor and interlocutor of the international community in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime, the Moroccan delegation reiterated.
Morocco claims that religious radicalization is the main vector of worrying threats in the Sahel region, notes the Moroccan delegation, noting that the analysis of the terrorist activity of extremist groups active in the Sahel highlights the links between armed separatist groups and extremist groups operating in the Sahel region.
In this regard, Morocco welcomes the considerable efforts made by the States of the Sahel in the fight against terrorism and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to sharing its expertise with the countries of the Sahel region in the fight against terrorism which threatens the stability and tranquility of its populations, in particular its expertise in the field of de-radicalization, notably through the promotion of Islam in the middle ground, allowing the Kingdom to establish itself as a “real bulwark” against terrorism.
The Moroccan delegation reaffirmed, on the other hand, that On the High instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco has always provided solidarity support to the countries of the region to face the food crisis, through food and medical aid and by providing them with its technical expertise in the various cooperation sectors.
In addition to its solidarity and commitment with the countries of the Sahel with which it maintains centuries-old ties, multifaceted cooperation and multidimensional relations, Morocco provides support in the areas of training and border control to the G5 Sahel, which constitutes a relevant response to the challenges of the Sahel region, adds the Moroccan delegation.
Morocco solemnly contributes to the “Trans-Saharan” counterterrorism program launched by the United States with the aim of combating terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa in addition to its participation in forums, conferences and workshops related to the Sahelian program to fight against transnational organized crime, underlines the Moroccan delegation, adding that the Kingdom expresses the hope that the consultation carried out by the High Level Independent Group on Security and Development in the Sahel, led by the former President of Niger, Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou, would be in able to give new impetus to regional coordination efforts.
