Andrew Murrison: Morocco a stronghold of stability in Africa

Monday 30 June 2025 - 16:36

By: Zahouani Ilham

Andrew Murrison: Morocco a stronghold of stability in Africa

Andrew Murrison, British MP and former Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted Morocco’s crucial role as a pillar of stability across the African continent.

In a recent article, Murrison described Morocco as an emerging power and emphasized that the kingdom acts as a strong barrier against threats such as terrorist groups, organized crime, and illegal immigration before they can reach Europe. Given this vital role, he stressed the importance of supporting this stable, moderate, and reliable African stronghold.

Murrison, who also served as the British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Morocco, commented on the UK government’s recent decision to endorse Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. He noted that this alignment with close allies strengthens one of the UK's oldest diplomatic ties, enhances prospects for peace and prosperity in the region, and opens new opportunities for trade and security cooperation.

The UK’s support for Morocco’s plan was formalized in a joint statement following the visit of the British Foreign Secretary to Morocco, which recognized the autonomy plan as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a final resolution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.

Welcoming the significance of this joint statement, Murrison pointed out that Rabat and London have initiated a new era of relations marked by a reinforced strategic partnership.

This partnership spans numerous sectors, including defense, security, agriculture, trade, renewable energy, water resilience, scientific research, human rights, and more. He underscored that this development represents the most significant progress in the bilateral relationship, which is rooted in over 800 years of friendship since the UK-Morocco association agreement was signed in 2019.