Two days ago, Morocco’s leader, King Mohammed VI (photo), gave a speech during which he emphasized on the importance of the relation between his country and the rest of Africa, saying it is not just economic. A statement which comes a while after Morocco, it should be recalled, reintegrated the African Union and wishes to be part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“Morocco’s decision to turn to Africa is not random. It was also not thought after defined assessments or ephemeral calculations of any sort,” said the king who added: “Morocco’s commitment to defend Africa’s interests goes a long way back. It is a line of thoughts we inherited from our ancestors, and which we continue to hold dear even today, with insurance and pride”.

On the same occasion, Mohammed VI mentioned some of the good results yielded from his pan-African approach and also some of the projects that his country carries out across the continent. In the first category, he obviously referred to the reintegration of Morocco in the African Union, saying the development is a “major diplomatic event in the framework of the kingdom’s external policy”, and a true success. Regarding the second category, he mentioned among others the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline and fertilizer production units in Ethiopia.

Would it be possible that the King, to the detriment of his own people, is too African? Not at all, he says. Indeed, though he believes his commitment to the continent is vital, he highlights that it would always align with the convictions of the Moroccan State (that would certainly include the ownership of Western Sahara). “As far as we are concerned, Africa holds a future which begins now,” he said in address.

Aaron Akinocho