The foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) have praised Morocco’s efforts, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, to support Africa’s development.

In remarks to the press Tuesday on the sidelines of the 4th United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Sevilla, the top diplomats of the AES countries paid tribute to the King for his unwavering commitment to the development of the Sahel, and in particular, for the Royal Initiatives promoting economic and social progress in the region.

Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, highly praised the Kingdom of Morocco’s support, under the leadership of the King, for South-South cooperation for the benefit of Africa.

The Nigerien official highlighted the Royal Initiative aimed at granting Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, calling it a “boon” for the four landlocked nations (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad) enabling them to integrate into the global market.

He also emphasized Morocco’s key role in financing investments across Africa, developing skills, and improving youth employability on the continent.

For his part, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said Morocco is a pioneering actor in South-South cooperation and plays a central role in strengthening ties among African countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. He noted that the first South-South development projects were initiated and funded by the Kingdom of Morocco.

“The Royal Initiative to facilitate Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean aligns with the development needs of our countries, as it allows us to overcome landlocked constraints and connect with the international market,” he said.

Echoing this view, Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, stressed the importance for AES member countries to access international markets to transform their economies, improve citizens’ lives, and foster regional security.

He insisted in this connection that “There can be no development without security, which is why it is urgent to combat terrorism and its sources of financing.”