In a letter addressed to Mr. Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Burkina Faso’s head of diplomacy, Mr. Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, clearly acknowledged the crucial role played by the Moroccan presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC-AU) in bringing to fruition these informal consultations with Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan, organized last Tuesday at the initiative of the Moroccan presidency of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union PSC-AU.
Indeed, he welcomed “this new leadership at the head of the PSC, and above all the Kingdom of Morocco’s touch, based on the promotion of constructive dialogue informed by realism and mutual listening”.
While marking a new page in the age-old friendship between the two countries, Mr. Traoré’s letter of thanks resonates far beyond the AES, constituting international recognition of Morocco’s leading role in establishing peace, security and sustainable development on the Continent, in line with Morocco’s African policy, deeply rooted in Morocco’s political choices under the leadership of His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco.
Morocco, which chairs PSC for the month of March, convened informal consultations with Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan in Addis Ababa last Tuesday. The six countries were, as a reminder, suspended by the AU following changes in the heads of power in the said countries;
These exchanges provided an opportunity for the ambassadors of the said countries to interact with the PSC and provide information on the state of progress of the democratic transition process in their respective countries.
Morocco is thus demonstrating an active and united commitment to helping the six countries accelerate their respective transition processes, based on the foundations of democratic institutionally advocated by the AU, and ultimately speeding up the process of their full reintegration into the African fold;
It is with a deep sense of responsibility and an unwavering commitment to the unity, peace, stability and progress of our beloved Continent that the Kingdom of Morocco, in its capacity as Chairman of the PSC, has convened these informal consultations.
These exchanges are fully in line with the mandate of the PSC, as defined by its Protocol, in particular Article 8 paragraph 11, which provides for the holding of informal consultations with the parties concerned by a situation under consideration by the PSC, whenever this is required.
By implementing this key provision of the Protocol, the meeting convened by the Moroccan Chairmanship aimed to strengthen dialogue with States in political transition, listen to them and explore together the best ways to foster stability, peace and their return to constitutional order, thus paving the way for their full reintegration into our continental organization.
This meeting was an essential step towards strengthening dialogue between countries in political transition and AU institutions, identifying avenues of convergence and reinforcing inter-African cooperation for lasting peace and stability,
This initiative by the Moroccan Presidency of the PSC-AU towards these friendly countries is guided by a multidimensional approach, rooted in cooperation and solidarity, in order to identify sustainable solutions adapted to the specific contexts of each country.
