The talks between the two ministers focused on strengthening cooperation relations between Morocco and the Republic of Niger, as well as on subjects of common interest.

In a statement to MAP following the meeting, the Nigerien official said that he had discussed with his Moroccan counterpart the current state of relations between the two countries, topical issues within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to promote Sahel States’ access to the Atlantic Ocean.

“I was delighted to see that things are moving forward” on this Royal Initiative, said the Nigerien Minister, noting that things had moved “faster and further” on the Moroccan side in this area.

The Nigerien official underlined that a meeting of Niger’s technical experts on this subject would be held very shortly, which “will define a roadmap for the implementation of this initiative” that, he assured, will take place within a “very short” timeframe.

“The skeptical will understand that this is not utopia, but true things”, the Minister insisted, adding that His Majesty King Mohammed VI is “truly committed to helping Sahel countries”.

This meeting took place on the occasion of the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, scheduled for May 4 and 5 in Banjul, under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity Through Dialogue For Sustainable Development”, in the presence of the Moroccan ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Mustapha Mansouri, and the ambassador, director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, Mohamed Methqal.