Nairobi, 15/07/2023 (MAP) – The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirmed, on Friday in Nairobi, the importance of regional integration in Africa as a prerequisite for continental integration.
In a statement to the press on the sidelines of Morocco’s participation in the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (July 13-14), the Kingdom’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, said the Moroccan delegation had stressed the centrality of regional integration as a sine qua non for the successful completion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
With regard to the AU’s institutional reform process, the Moroccan delegation stressed the importance of the credibility and transparency of the intergovernmental process, as well as strict compliance with the principles of responsibility, competence, good governance and accountability.
In addition, Morocco reiterated the need to combat all factors of division or disruption within the Union, which are likely to hamper the smooth running of the institution and impact the effectiveness of the intergovernmental process, added Arrouchi.
The Moroccan delegation also highlighted the Kingdom’s substantial financial contribution to the AU budget, which was adopted at the session.
In this context, Morocco emphasized the imperative of ensuring full respect for the principles of accountability and good administrative and financial governance within the AU Commission, said the Moroccan diplomat.
For his part, director of Greater Maghreb, AMU and AU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, said that during the review of the concept note and roadmap for the 2024 theme on education, Morocco reaffirmed the centrality of education and teaching in the Moroccan vision of joint African action, « given that the success of any development project cannot be achieved without prior investment in the African human element ».
Referring to the elaboration of the strategy and political framework of the African Union’s partnerships, Boukili said that the Kingdom had stressed during this session the imperative of adopting a legalistic approach based on respect for the decisions of the AU’s deliberative bodies, with an emphasis on strengthening the operational dimension of partnerships.
