On Monday, King Mohammed VI welcomed the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger at the Royal Palace in Rabat, in a meeting that underscored growing ties between Morocco and the Sahel States Alliance. The visit marked a significant moment in the alliance’s evolving relationship with the North African kingdom.
The three diplomats—Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Abdoulaye Diop, and Bakary Yaou Sangaré—delivered messages of appreciation from their respective heads of state. They praised Morocco’s longstanding engagement with the Sahel, highlighting King Mohammed VI’s leadership in pushing forward regional development and cooperation. The ministers specifically acknowledged Morocco’s role in advancing economic and social progress across their countries.
A central point of discussion was Morocco’s proposal to give the landlocked Sahel nations access to the Atlantic Ocean—a move that Rabat considers vital for regional transformation. Leaders in Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey view this initiative as a game-changer, potentially ending the isolation that has long hampered trade and connectivity in their region. The plan is seen as a strategic lifeline that could integrate the Sahel more deeply into global markets.
The visiting officials also shared updates on the status of the Sahel States Alliance, which was formed to coordinate cooperation between the three transitional governments. They emphasized the alliance’s commitment to building a more structured and unified regional framework, aimed at boosting collective resilience and independence in the face of growing security and economic challenges.
