The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, expressed on June 9 in Dakhla Morocco’s utmost solidarity with Burkina Faso in its efforts to counter extremism and terrorism.
Following the fourth session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Commission, Bourita stated that “Morocco firmly condemns the cowardly attacks targeting the brotherly country of Burkina Faso, which contradict the spirit of tolerance and coexistence that prevailed in this country.”
Bourita noted that the situation in Burkina Faso is closely linked to the instability in the Sahel and the Sahara, where armed terrorist groups have found an ideal fertile ground for their proliferation, stressing that over 60% of the world’s terrorist operations occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with the number of victims of such terrorist operations in the region exceeding that recorded in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“Today, there are at least 12 terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and Sahara region, in collusion with 19 separatist groups that threaten the territorial integrity of African countries,” noted the Moroccan minister, underlining that the scourge of infiltration by terrorist groups into Africa is a general phenomenon.
The Foreign Minister also added that Burkina Faso, in particular, needs support since countering terrorism in this country will have a greater impact on the entire Sahel and West Africa region.
In a similar context, Bourita affirmed that Morocco, which has made countering terrorism and extremism an absolute priority, constantly calls on the international community to pay special attention to this scourge, by supporting the measures and actions taken by the affected African countries, according to a holistic and innovative approach that combines humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism.
The Moroccan official also affirmed that Morocco is closely following the development of Burkina Faso’s transition process, and is confident that the country’s leaders will approach all developments in the country with wisdom and supreme national interest in mind, emphasizing that the measures taken by President Ibrahim Traoré contribute to maintaining stability and relaunching the development process in Burkina Faso.
Emphasizing that the transition process is on the right track, Bourita also noted that Morocco believes that elections in themselves are not the end goal but just a tool to achieve stability, underlining that “organizing elections in the absence of security and ongoing conflicts is meaningless.”
In this context, the Moroccan official praised the wisdom of the Burkinabe authorities, reaffirming the Kingdom’s full solidarity with Burkina Faso during this time.
“Working to strengthen state structures and meet humanitarian needs reflects a sincere desire to bring Burkina Faso out of this difficult situation,” stated Bourita, emphasizing that Morocco is committed to supporting the development program launched by His Excellency President Ibrahim Traoré, through assistance and the exchange of expertise to achieve the desired goals.
The Foreign Minister added that “Burkina Faso has shown remarkable steadfastness and stability in this particular context,” expressing his confidence that Burkina Faso, with its leadership, its capacities, its population’s determination, and its brotherly countries’ support, is ready to overcome the difficulties it faces during this particular period.
The fourth session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Cooperation Commission kicked off in Dakhla, under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his Burkinabe counterpart, Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba.
The fourth session was an opportunity to examine new cooperation horizons to strengthen relations between Morocco and Burkina Faso and establish fruitful partnerships in several fields, per the guidelines set out by the Heads of State of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Ibrahim Traoré.
