The Crans Montana Forum is set to mark its 40th edition this October in Rabat, with a high-level gathering focused on redefining Atlantic cooperation. Running from October 1 to 4, the anniversary session will explore how renewed Atlantic connectivity can serve as a foundation for deeper dialogue, sustainable development, and peace between both shores of the ocean—all while reinforcing Africa’s role on the global stage.
Heads of state, government ministers, lawmakers, international organization representatives, business leaders, and civil society figures are expected to descend on the Moroccan capital. Their mission: to identify the key drivers of African integration in an era shaped by new Atlantic dynamics.
Speaking at a press conference in Rabat, Jean-Paul Carteron, the forum’s founding president, emphasized that this edition directly echoes the vision of King Mohammed VI. The Moroccan monarch has long advocated for an Atlantic alliance built on solidarity, sustainability, and peace. In this spirit, the forum aims to become both a think tank and a platform for action, bringing together stakeholders from across the Atlantic seaboards—including a special focus on Africa’s 16 landlocked countries, often left on the margins of such conversations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo will take center stage as the guest of honor this year. A dedicated session titled “DRC 2030” will dive into the country’s most pressing priorities, from mining and energy to industrialization and economic sovereignty.
A number of prominent figures are confirmed for the opening session, including Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, ruler of Fujairah, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, and ministers from the DRC, Republic of Congo, and Antigua and Barbuda.
The United Arab Emirates, a strategic partner of the forum, will also be present, joined by major investment funds and leading economic players from around the world.
Discussions throughout the forum will span a wide range of critical topics, from digital infrastructure and transcontinental transport to food security, energy transition, and mechanisms for strengthening intra-African integration.
The previous edition of the forum, held in Casablanca in spring 2025, centered on maritime security and port safety within the broader context of international trade.
