On Thursday in Rabat, Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its firm and constant position regarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom over its entire territory, including the Sahara region.
This position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué following talks held on Thursday in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Nialé Kaba, currently on her first working visit to the Kingdom.
On this occasion, the head of Ivorian diplomacy reiterated Côte d’Ivoire’s constant support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom over all of its territory, including the Sahara region.
Nialé Kaba also reaffirmed her country’s support for the Autonomy Plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco.
Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the royal initiatives aimed at promoting development in Africa.
“Côte d’Ivoire supports these initiatives and stands with Morocco to ensure they succeed in accordance with His Majesty’s guidance,” the Ivorian minister stated following his talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
Nialé Kaba also highlighted the multifaceted nature of Moroccan-Ivorian cooperation. According to him, “the Moroccan private sector is quite dynamic in its partnership with Côte d’Ivoire to build its economy and, thereby, the country.”
The Ivorian foreign minister also noted that the two sides agreed to meet again to “take stock of the economic momentum group so that it can be more dynamic and we can go even further.”
Echoing this sentiment, Nasser Bourita reiterated Morocco’s gratitude to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for its consistent stance on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. “Côte d’Ivoire has always been a strong partner and ally of Morocco in this existential cause for the Kingdom,” he affirmed.
The Moroccan minister added that “this position has always been received with great appreciation and respect by His Majesty the King, the Moroccan people, and its leading figures.”
“Your country is therefore a strong bilateral partner for the Kingdom of Morocco, a leading bilateral partner in Africa,” Nasser Bourita said with satisfaction.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs further noted that Côte d’Ivoire is also “a major regional partner, playing an essential role in royal initiatives, whether those related to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project to Europe, to which His Majesty the King attaches particular importance.”
This project, he noted, “is now taking significant steps toward its implementation, particularly following the approval by the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of the intergovernmental agreement establishing this gas pipeline.”
Through this meeting, Rabat and Abidjan reaffirm the strength of a political, economic, and regional partnership destined to grow stronger. Between its unwavering support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, bilateral cooperation, and commitment to major African royal projects, Côte d’Ivoire remains one of Morocco’s key partners on the continent
As a reminder, on May 19, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau expressed their support for the Kingdom of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its territorial integrity.
This position was expressed in a joint statement following bilateral talks helds on 19 may between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the foreign ministers of Madagascar, Ms. Alice N’Diaye, and Guinea-Bissau, Mr. João Bernardo Vieira.
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