فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Today, Wednesday in Dakhla, the “First International Forum on the Moroccan Sahara” opened, organized by the University Institute for African, Euro-Mediterranean and Ibero-American Studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat and the Ishaaa Center for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies, with the participation of a number of experts, academics and researchers.
This forum, organized in partnership with the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and the National School of Commerce and Management of Dakhla, is held under the title “The Moroccan Sahara as a cultural heritage and a space for integration into the African-Atlantic Ocean, based on the visionary royal vision.”
The forum falls within the context of keeping pace with the transformations that the Kingdom is experiencing within the framework of its regional, continental and international surroundings, and the efforts aimed at contributing to anticipating the trends of current international and regional events, and following up on the map of the Kingdom’s geopolitical interactions with these events, within the framework of Morocco’s position as a rising regional power that plays a vital role in Its continental and international surroundings.
It also aims to open an academic scientific discussion and forward-looking analysis about the geo-economic stakes that are taking shape in this new geopolitical space, in which the southern regions of the Kingdom will constitute a basic point for launching many development projects with regional and continental supplies, which will contribute to the completion of structured development projects that will benefit the population. The southern regions and the rest of the peoples of the region.
In an opening speech, the President of the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Al-Khattat Yenja, highlighted that this important scientific forum seeks to highlight the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for successful development in the southern regions of the Kingdom and its implications for its continental surroundings, especially the sub-Saharan Africa region and the Sahel countries.
Mr. Yenga added that this forum is an opportunity to positively evaluate the development model of the southern regions of the Kingdom, and an opportunity to provide an overview of the strategic vision of His Majesty the King regarding the development of Africa, and to make the southern regions, with their development today, a point of radiation and cooperation to explore more development opportunities. In cooperation with African countries.
For his part, the acting director of the University Institute of African, Euro-Mediterranean and Ibero-American Studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Mohamed Dhafer Kettani, said that this forum constitutes an opportunity for participants, both experts and academics, to discuss and discuss ways to support and strengthen the foundations of sustainable development in the Moroccan Sahara, by focusing On three main axes.
He explained that the first axis addresses the vital role that the Moroccan Sahara can play in shaping the African Atlantic and coastal space, through its strategic location, which makes it a starting point for economic development and infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and regional integration.
The second axis concerns the geo-economic stakes of development projects in the Moroccan Sahara within the framework of the African-Atlantic space, which include strengthening infrastructure, developing renewable energies, smart and sustainable agriculture, greenhouse farming, sustainable tourism, and paying attention to education and vocational training.
As for the third axis, Mr. Al-Kattani adds, it addresses the geopolitical stakes of the Atlantic and coastal space in light of the multi-faceted security risks, such as migration and border security, terrorism and violent extremism, and internal or regional conflicts, where cooperation constitutes a starting point for reaching peaceful solutions and promoting dialogue and understanding. between interested parties.
For his part, the head of the Ishaaa Center for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies, Muhammad Al-Kihal, confirmed that this scientific meeting, directed primarily at the student group as they are the levers that will play pioneering roles in society, comes as a result of the combined efforts of a number of academic activities to discuss initiatives and ways to integrate the Moroccan Sahara into Its African-Atlantic surroundings.
Mr. Al-Kihal explained that the forum aims to shed light on the “daring” and “proactive” Royal Atlantic Initiative, which has economic, geopolitical and strategic connotations and dimensions, highlighting that this initiative has returned the region to its historical role, given that the Moroccan Sahara has always been a basic determinant that constitutes depth. The Kingdom’s strategy.
He added that the role played by Morocco in its Atlantic-African space was not born today, but rather is based on civilizational, cultural, religious and spiritual components, and is also based on economic foundations, given that Morocco, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is the pioneer of South-South cooperation that… It depends on mutual benefit (win-win).
For his part, Director of the Nigerian Center for Arab Research in Nigeria, Al-Khadir Abdul Baqi Muhammad, said that holding the forum represents an opportunity to come together to discuss strategic issues of utmost importance, and to discuss many of the challenges facing sub-Saharan African countries, most notably development and cooperation.
He highlighted that Morocco’s African policy is an “integrated policy” that includes aspects of economic, religious and cultural cooperation of each African country with the Kingdom, in harmony that stems from one source, which is the visionary vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, stressing that the African presence remains “rooted” and “continuous” in Moroccan cultural discourse.
Mr. Abdel Baqi Mohamed appreciated the Atlantic Initiative, launched by Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as a continuation of the royal vision for South-South cooperation, noting that this initiative will enable African countries to better exploit the resources and capabilities available to them.
He concluded by saying, “This is not the first time that Morocco has provided a helping hand to its African brothers, as the Kingdom is at the forefront of countries concerned with everything that brings security and stability to the region,” praising the role that Morocco plays in confronting terrorism in African countries and empowering the discourse
