FM Bourita emphasizes Morocco’s commitment to strengthening institutional resilience in Africa

Rabat – Morocco is committed to strengthening institutional resilience in Africa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, said Tuesday in Rabat.

“From words to deeds, our work in the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) since 2022 has focused on highlighting the interdependencies between institutional resilience, stability, and prosperity of Africa,” said Bourita in a speech at the start of the second training cycle for African election observers, which he co-chairs with the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankolé Adeoye.

The minister noted that since Morocco’s return to the African Union, it has collaborated with Commissioner Bankolé, who oversees this department, on a number of topics including the relationship between peace and climate change and this training of election observers, which reflects one of the most significant aspects of cooperation with the department.

He said that the second training cycle also falls during the next two-day celebration of Africa Day.

“We are in the process of being included in the department’s priorities and trying to support the actions of this ministry in the framework of a constructive partnership so that Africa, through the AU and this department, can rely on the member states,” he said.

“This willingness stems from the Very High Guidelines given by HM King Mohammed VI, to contribute with all Africans who wish to the emergence of an Africa that takes in hand its own electoral processes and has, for that, solid and credible institutional capacity to validate them,” said Bourita.

In addition, he expressed his appreciation for “seeing the number of participants this year, which is almost double that of the previous year, which means that this exercise has proved relevant also for the participants and for the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.”

“This second cycle is taking place in a rather particular African context, first the context of multiple crises that Africa, like the rest of the world, is facing, security, health, political, and economic crisis,” he continued.

He added that this cycle coincides with the continent of Africa’s election year par excellence, in which at least 16 elections will be held. He continued, “Elections and good governance in Africa are sometimes positive, sometimes ambiguous, some important progress is made in some countries, while questions are also noted in other countries.”

Minister: “There is no better way to’silence the weapons’ than to let democracy speak via democratic elections.’ Morocco has continuously cautioned about the governance/security nexus. The beginning of a strong and durable governance program is at this moment.

He pointed out that there is no question that all African states, without exception, are fundamentally dedicated to the universal values of democracy and good governance.

The minister stated that this has prompted Morocco to pursue many measures targeted at enhancing the institutional capacity of the AU as well as those of its member states. “Political responsibility does not stop at values, but starts with them: to better implement them,” he said.

Each member state must establish the necessary conditions within its own internal political, constitutional, and legal order if the AU’s objective is, as it should be, to prevent “unconstitutional change.” The only way for beliefs and values to have both internal and external power is in this manner, he said.

According to Bourita, Morocco’s commitment has given equal weight to systems and procedures for creating capacity in good governance, particularly in the field of elections. She emphasized that the planning of this cycle is “a concrete demonstration of Morocco’s commitment.”

In addition, Bourita discussed the electoral process in the Kingdom, which has long opted to create a model of a democratic and contemporary society based on the rule of law, the participation of all citizens in political life, the separation of powers, the decentralization of power, the establishment of control mechanisms, and good governance.

From May 23 to 26, the Kingdom of Morocco will host the second training session for African election observers. This is a crucial step in strengthening the collaboration between Morocco and the African Union in support of political administration in Africa.

After the success of its initial iteration, this second cycle is particularly notable for an increase of beneficiaries, from 32 to 61, comprising 41 observers from the five regions of the continent, to which 10 young Moroccan observers will be added.

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