Morocco’s diplomacy reshapes Africa’s approach to sovereignty and unity

Saturday 29 November 2025 - 08:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco’s diplomacy reshapes Africa’s approach to sovereignty and unity

At the ongoing MEDays Forum in Tangier, African diplomats and experts highlighted Morocco’s evolving diplomatic influence in Africa, particularly through the lens of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31. This resolution, which recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, signals a shift in Africa's political dynamics and marks the culmination of decades of strategic Moroccan diplomacy under His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Morocco’s partnerships in banking, agriculture, telecommunications, and energy exemplified by the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline and OCP Africa fertilizer initiatives illustrate its role as a cornerstone of intra-African cooperation and economic sovereignty. Former Central African Republic Prime Minister Martin Ziguélé praised Morocco’s consistent and resilient approach, calling on the kingdom to continue supporting peace and stability in conflict-prone regions.

Speakers acknowledged Morocco’s return to the African Union in 2017 as a turning point. Samir Bennis, former UN adviser, explained how decades of groundwork, including over 1,000 bilateral agreements signed by HM King Mohammed VI, laid the foundation for this diplomatic success. He described Resolution 2797 as a reflection of Morocco’s patient diplomacy and its influence in reshaping African and global power balances.

Former Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud emphasized Morocco’s ability to achieve sovereignty without escalation, framing it as a model for African unity. Similarly, former Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju commended Morocco’s reliance on diplomacy over conflict, contrasting it with past African Union contradictions.

Many participants urged the African Union to adopt positions that reflect the new realities of Resolution 2797. They warned that outdated stances on the Sahara risk undermining the AU’s credibility as a continental institution. Morocco’s success, they argued, exemplifies how strategic patience and collaboration can redefine sovereignty and foster pan-African solidarity.

By combining diplomacy, economic integration, and cultural outreach, Morocco has emerged as a stabilizing force and a model for addressing Africa’s challenges through unity and cooperation.