Morocco leads the defence of peace and stability from the Peace and Security Council of the African Union
Morocco has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the defence of peace and stability in Africa through its leadership in mediating the multiple crises affecting the continent and holding back its development.
Based on a proactive and global approach founded on the principles of support and active solidarity, and inspired by the royal vision, the initiatives and decisions of the Moroccan presidency of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union have aimed to create an Africa that believes in its ability to take charge of its own destiny.
Important issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), its impact on peace and security and climate change have been at the centre of debates during the Moroccan presidency last March.
During the month of March, the PSC held informal consultations with countries in political transition (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Sudan and Gabon), as well as addressing the security situation in Sudan and South Sudan.
Initiatives of the Moroccan presidency
Morocco's time at the head of the PSC-AU has been marked by the organisation of a ministerial meeting on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on peace and security. During this meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, called for the emergence of strong and united African leadership, capable of making AI a real lever for development, peace and security at the service of the African population.
One of the highlights of the Moroccan presidency was the convening of informal consultations with the six African countries in political transition: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, Sudan and Guinea.
The Moroccan initiative to hold these consultations, which allowed for an evaluation of the progress made in their respective transition processes and reaffirmed their aspiration to full and total reintegration into the AU, was greatly appreciated by the six countries involved.
During the month of March, Morocco has also followed with great interest the developments observed in several African countries, paying special attention to the situation in Sudan and South Sudan.
In parallel with this, in the face of the multiple security challenges facing the continent, the Moroccan presidency organised several thematic sessions that highlighted crucial challenges for peace and security in Africa such as climate change; deradicalisation as a lever in the fight against violent extremism; and the debate on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa.
The organisation of the induction and orientation programme for new PSC members, held in Arusha (Tanzania) between 22 and 28 March, was another highlight of the Moroccan presidency of the Council. The aim was to draw up a roadmap to improve the effectiveness of the Peace and Security Council.
As chair of the PSC, Morocco played a key role in the adoption of the Common African Position on the 2025 Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture.
Moroccan leadership and diplomatic skill
African countries in political transition have praised Morocco's leadership, capacity for innovation and diplomatic skill following its call for informal consultations on 18 March in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) with Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Niger and Sudan.
In a letter addressed to the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, the head of Guinean diplomacy, Morissanda Kouyaté, emphasised that ‘this initiative marks a real step forward in the management of political change in Africa, and demonstrates once again the capacity for innovation and diplomatic skill of the Alaouite Kingdom’.
In the same vein, the heads of diplomacy of Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger and Mali have praised the initiative and the crucial role played by the Moroccan presidency in the realisation of these informal consultations.
In their respective letters, the African leaders also welcomed Morocco's new leadership at the head of the Council and the Kingdom's touch based on the promotion of a constructive dialogue guided by realism and mutual listening, underlining the importance and the place of the North African country on the political chessboard of the continent.
This Moroccan initiative to convene informal consultations with countries in transition is based on the interest of accompanying the six states, accelerating their process of political transition, through concrete projects. The objective is to help them face the challenges they face in terms of development, food security and health, the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, as well as to facilitate their return to constitutional order.
The Royal Vision of the Joint African Action, based on the fundamental principle of active solidarity, especially with these states, seeks the return of the six African countries to their positions within the African Union and their contribution to the promotion of the Pan-African Agenda on peace, security and development.
Morocco has always shown an active commitment and solidarity with these six countries and is willing to help them accelerate their respective transition processes, based on the democratic institutional framework promoted by the African Union.
These informal consultations are part of the initiatives and efforts undertaken by Morocco to promote peace, stability and socio-economic development in Africa, in addition to the Royal Initiative to facilitate access by the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, a project known as the Atlantic Facade.
The aim of Morocco's active solidarity with African countries is to consolidate intra-African cooperation in the service of the progress of the continent's populations, in order to create a prosperous and stable Africa, capable of facing the multiple challenges that the third millennium represents.