Since ascending to the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has adopted an ambitious and multidimensional plan to strengthen Morocco’s position in Africa.
Leveraging the country’s historical connections, King Mohammed VI has asserted Morocco’s African dimension and made South-South Cooperation a focal point of the country’s foreign diplomacy.
Under his reign, Morocco has become not only an industrial powerhouse but also a continental role model in political stability and religious moderation, and a vocal supporter of continental integration.
A Return to the African Union
Morocco’s return to the African Union (AU) in 2017 marked a turning point in its Africa policy.
“Morocco is returning to its natural place and is supported by an overwhelming majority to reclaim its seat within the African institutional family,” King Mohammed VI said in a speech in 2016.
Rejoining the AU allows Morocco to become part of “sectoral development strategies in Africa and actively support and enrich them thanks to the outstanding experience Morocco has gained in various fields,” the King underlined.
The North African Kingdom first left the Union (the Organisation of African Unity at that time) in 1984 after it recognized the so-called Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
The Moroccan Sahara Dossier
One of the primary concerns of Morocco’s foreign policy in Africa and beyond has been the Sahara. The region has historically been part of Morocco. However, after the country gained its independence from Spain, an Algeria-backed armed militia known as the Polisario has been attempting to contest Morocco’s sovereignty over the region.
The King’s Africa-focused strategy has culminated in widespread continental support for the legitimacy of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan proposed in 2007 to solve the issue.
Under King Mohammed VI’s reign, the Autonomy Plan is now widely regarded as the most credible solution to resolve the Sahara issue.
In recent years, Morocco has been increasingly gaining support from African States. A notable step in this respect is the establishment of multiple consulates in the southern cities Dakhla and Laayoune.
Countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, the Comoros, and Gabon have opened diplomatic offices in these cities, asserting their support for Morocco.
The diplomatic efforts have been bolstered by Morocco’s efforts to position itself as a “gateway” to Africa.
Gateway to Africa
Economic diplomacy has also been another key component of King Mohammed VI’s plan for strengthening connections within Africa. The monarch has spearheaded a number of massive cross-continental projects and initiatives.
The most ambitious so far is the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), a colossal $25 billion project that would transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco and then to Europe, passing through 13 West African countries.
Measuring 5,660 kilometres, NMGP is set to become the world’s longest offshore pipeline. Once operational, it will cover the energy needs of a staggering 400 million people along the West African coast. The pipeline is poised to improve energy security, promote economic integration, and spur regional growth.
In addition to the NMGP, King Mohammed VI unveiled a new initiative in November 2023 that would allow landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Dubbed the Atlantic Initiative for Sahel Countries, the plan will provide Sahel countries with access to Morocco’s road, port, and rail infrastructure, paving the way for large-scale development projects.
The plan reflects King Mohammed VI’s broader strategy of positioning Morocco as a catalyst for regional development. The initiative has garnered widespread acclaim as it has the potential to support continental integration and boost the economies of the countries involved.
Morocco’s Religious Soft Power in Africa
Morocco exhibits a unique form of soft power through its use of religious diplomacy, particularly through the training of Ulemas, or Islamic scholars, from countries devastated by terrorism.
In 2015, the King inaugurated the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulemas to support his vision of promoting religious tolerance.
The institution’s founding purpose has been to “unify and harmonize the efforts of the Islamic scholars in Morocco and African countries in order to identify, spread, and consolidate the tolerant values of Islam.”
Beyond addressing security challenges like extremism and terrorism, the institution has a broader geostrategic purpose: extending Morocco’s religious diplomacy beyond the traditional Rabat-Dakar Axis.
The institution gradually attracted Islamic scholars from around the continent. As of 2016, around 30 African countries were regularly represented in the foundation’s events.
Morocco’s quest to export its “Spiritual Security” culminated in the signing of religious conventions with 36 African countries between 2012 and 2017, an impressive feat compared to only five conventions between 1975 and 1999, according to data from Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA).
Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has become internationally recognized as a politically stable nation, driven by a long-term vision that emphasises mutual prosperity in its relationships with external partners.