Macky Sall praises Morocco's policies

The 9th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa opened on Monday in Diamniadio with the participation of politicians, experts and researchers from various countries under the theme "Africa, potential and solutions to security challenges and institutional instability". 

In the framework of the ninth edition of the Forum, the Senegalese leader had a meeting with the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, whom he praised on the basis of the good diplomatic actions carried out by the Alawi country. The forum was attended by Senegalese government officials and the diplomatic corps, including the foreign ministers of Japan, Kosovo, Turkey, Germany and Rwanda, as well as the Moroccan ambassador to Senegal, Hassan Nachiri.

Sall placed relations with Morocco on a par with those of France, Saudi Arabia and the United States, describing them as "special, long-standing and in need of consolidation". Sall praised the diplomatic role in promoting relations with Morocco, noting that the North African country is Senegal's most important economic partner on the African continent and that Senegal was the first country to sign a bilateral agreement with Morocco. 

He stressed that Senegal's relations with its long-standing partners are not only based on tradition, but must also be strengthened to adapt to the changing dynamics of a globalised world. To make the most of relations, Sall stressed that Senegal's foreign policy is based on openness and partnership, "preserving our traditional friendships and being open to new trends in the context of globalisation, making the most of our relations with others, while embracing new trends in the era of globalisation". 

In this context, Macky Sall praised the efforts of Senegalese diplomats who gave importance to Senegal's foreign policy. "We must not forget that Senegal is Morocco's main economic partner in Africa and the first country to sign a bilateral agreement with the Kingdom," he added. 

Morocco and Senegal have developed and maintained long-standing ties in various fields of economic, political, cultural and spiritual cooperation. The two-day event was attended by several international dignitaries, including the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Geraldo Jaoa Martins. 

In his opening speech, the Senegalese president began by outlining the challenges facing Africa. "The theme of this ninth edition, Africa of potentials and solutions to security challenges and institutional instability, highlights the contrasts of our continent: a large and rich Africa, aspiring to emerge, but still lagging behind in the development process; an Africa advancing on the road to democracy, but still shaken by institutional instability; an Africa committed to silencing weapons, but still under devastating fire from conflicts and terrorism." 

In his speech, he advocated the solutions and casuistries that most affect the African continent:  

"Of course, Africa is rich in its enormous potential. But the rules and practices of unequal exchange contribute to its impoverishment. This is why we call for fairer and more equitable global political, economic and financial governance. Fairer and more equitable global governance would help bring solutions to Africa, i.e. an Africa that relies more on its own resources to finance its development efforts and offer new trade and investment opportunities to its partners. The theme of this ninth edition also reminds us of our share of responsibility for the security challenges and institutional instability that roil the continent. In addition to their human and material cost, armed conflicts drive our efforts on the path of economic and social development". 

Finally, he stressed the importance of words over violence: "It is therefore time to silence the guns and prioritise dialogue to resolve our differences. It is also through dialogue that partisan divisions are overcome to build coalitions necessary for the stability of national institutions. It seems to me equally important to ensure that the exercise of individual and collective freedoms is reconciled with the imperatives of law and order. Freedom without responsibility becomes a threat to society. 

This means that democracy, institutional stability and economic and social development cannot cope with destabilising factors such as populism, radicalism and extremism of all kinds. In the modern era, I am firmly convinced that nothing should condemn us to live on the margins of progress. The Africa of solutions is within our reach".