Rabat – Relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Sierra Leone have witnessed extensive development in recent years under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and HE President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, said Tuesday in Rabat.
Morocco and Sierra Leone are united by strong friendship and brotherhood which reflect the quality of historical relations between the two countries, Bourita told the press following his talks with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba.
He underlined that Morocco and Sierra Leone have a cooperation roadmap which “reflects the ambition of the two countries’ leaders to strengthen sectoral cooperation”, adding that this roadmap, implemented since 2021, runs until the end of the year.
In this regard, Bourita recalled the holding, last year in Dakhla, of the 3rd session of the Morocco-Sierra Leone Join
t Commission during which the two countries agreed on the importance of agriculture and food security as key areas for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
He also mentioned the holding by his Sierra Leonean peer of a meeting with representatives of the private sector to discuss their contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.
Noting that trade between Morocco and Sierra Leone has “almost doubled in recent years”, Bourita recalled the opening of diplomatic missions in the two countries, like the Consulate General of Sierra Leone in Dakhla and a diplomatic representation of Morocco in Sierra Leone.
On the other hand, Bourita praised “the positive and important role” that Sierra Leone is playing this year as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, highlighting the ongoing efforts of this African to carry the voice of the continent within this UN body.
The minister added that Sierra Leonean diplomacy, under the leadership of HE President Julius Maada Bio, has always be
en based on principles, notably clarity and the defense of territorial integrity and national sovereignty of countries.
Bourita expressed his thanks to the Republic of Sierra Leone for its “continued position concerning the Moroccan Sahara issue, expressed on April 16 during a meeting of the UN Security Council, in favor of Morocco’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty over its southern provinces’.
Sierra Leone “plays an important role with regard to HM King Mohammed VI’s initiatives in favor of Africa, including the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic”, Bourita said, recalling the participation of the Republic of Sierra Leone at a meeting organized in Rabat in this regard over the past two years.
The minister underlined, in this regard, that Sierra Leone is interested by the Nigeria-Morocco-Europe Gas Pipeline project, as well as by the Royal Initiative aimed at promoting access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, which are all important and structuring royal initiatives in which West A
frican countries, including Sierra Leone, play a major role in their implementation.
‘Relations between Morocco and Sierra Leone are based on solidarity as desired by His Majesty the King,’ he underlined, adding that the Kingdom has repeatedly given substance to this positive and constructive solidarity with Sierra Leone particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and the floods that affected this country.
Bourita also hailed the solidarity shown by Sierra Leone in defending Morocco’s interests and its priority issues, both continentally and internationally.
Relations between the two countries are very positive and developed, and are based on solidarity and mutual interests (win-win). They are guided by the firm will to make it a model for relations between two African countries based on mutual respect to serve the interests of the two peoples, in accordance with the vision of the two countries’ leaders, the minister noted.
Bourita stressed the need to hold a new session of the Morocco-Sierra Leone Joint Co
mmission, while recalling the importance of activating communication channels and consolidating bilateral sectoral cooperation through visit exchanges between the two countries’ ministers.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse