Rabat – Morocco’s and Somalia’s top diplomats have assessed the two nations’ long-standing diplomatic ties, advocating for more cooperation in areas such as regional stability.
On the margins of the inaugural ceremony of the International Research Center for the Prevention of Child Soldiers in Dakhla, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met with his Somali counterpart, Mahmoud Abdi Hassan.
The institution aims to protect children from being exploited in violent situations, which is a serious problem in Somalia.
The meeting between Bourita and Abi Hassan took place on the same day that the UN General Assembly unanimously approved the new African Union mission in Somalia.
The new mission is likely to place a high priority on taking actual operations against al-Qaeda-affiliated armed organizations.
The new AU Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) replaced the 15-year-old AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) which failed to restore peace and stability in the country.
‘Brotherhood’ in politics
Morocco and Somalia have always had “brotherly” connections, according to the two top ambassadors who met on Thursday. Ministers also encouraged the nations to explore new areas of cooperation.
Somalia has consistently supported Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara over the last few years. When Morocco initiated an operation to reopen the Guerguerat crossing point in November 2020, Somali authorities emphasized their stance.
The Moroccan operation was in response to the separatist Polisario Front’s three-week blockade. The blockade halted civil and commercial traffic in the region, causing hardship for Western Saharan and Mauritanian citizens.
Morocco’s allies, including Somalia, have expressed support for the country’s action.
“The government of the Federal Republic of Somalia stands alongside the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco in all the measures it undertakes to protect its security and sovereignty over its territories at the Guerguerat crossing point between Morocco and Mauritania,” tweeted the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 17, 2020.
Over the years, Moroccan-Somali cooperation has extended to numerous sectors.
The two countries signed in 2019 three memoranda of understanding with regard to the creation of the Morocco-Somalia High Joint Committee, co-chaired by the countries’ foreign ministers, the building of a political consultation facility, and cooperation in the training of diplomats.
The three agreements opted for the consolidation of diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between Rabat and Mogadishu through the continuous exchange of knowledge and expertise as well as mutual support of shared interests within regional and international organizations.