“Had this initiative not existed, it would have had to be created. It has been created, and Côte d’Ivoire welcomes it. For us, it’s another commitment that demonstrates Morocco’s support for Africa’s development”, Kacou Adom stressed at a press briefing held on the sidelines of the fifth session of the Morocco-Côte d’Ivoire Joint Grand Commission for Cooperation.

Kacou Adom also noted that his country can only “naturally” endorse  such an initiative and “play its part”, noting that the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is a beneficiary of HM King Mohammed VI’s vision and the Kingdom’s economic and industrial successes.

“It is why we’re 100% behind this Initiative, and we’re paying close attention to its development and implementation”, observed the diplomat.

Regarding the Moroccan Sahara, the Ivorian diplomat reiterated Côte d’Ivoire’s “unwavering” support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and its backing for the Autonomy Initiative.

“For Côte d’Ivoire, this position is non-negotiable”, he said, describing the Autonomy Initiative proposed by Morocco as a “credible and realistic” solution for resolving the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.