"Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste"

Tuesday 25 February 2025 - 12:23

By: Sabri Anouar

We know it, we live it, the question of our territorial integrity is at the heart of a constant battle on the international stage in all components of Moroccan diplomacy. And that's not all! Every component of Moroccan society, at one time or another, finds itself confronted with this struggle. If part of the population sometimes forgets it, social media are there to remind us, as they are full of misleading content from our detractors.

This is not just a political or diplomatic battle; it is a strategic, historical, and economic issue for us Moroccans. During my participation in a session on advocacy in Dakhla and through the exchanges that followed, this reality forcefully emerged: every challenge, every attack on our sovereignty, every misleading discourse, far from being an obstacle, is actually an opportunity. An opportunity to argue better, to communicate better, to strengthen our alliances, and to assert, with more force, the legitimacy of our cause.

In February 1945, when World War II was not yet over, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin gathered in Yalta to lay the foundations for a new world order. The world was in ruins, millions of lives had been lost, and yet, in the midst of the chaos, Churchill uttered this now-legendary phrase: "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

His message was clear: in every crisis, no matter how deep, there is an opportunity. An opportunity to rebuild, rethink, innovate. A month later, the United Nations were born, with the ambition to prevent a conflict of such magnitude from happening again.

This philosophy resonated with me throughout my trip to Dakhla, where I had the opportunity to participate in training on advocacy for our national cause. More than ever, this quote became my guiding thread, both during the training sessions and on the return journey, where every exchange confirmed this approach.

On-site, we analyzed the most effective techniques for structuring a convincing advocacy. It wasn't just about responding to attacks, but about building a proactive discourse, based on irrefutable historical facts and solid legal frameworks. We worked on an argument adapted to international arenas, on the importance of clear and impactful storytelling, and on the need to transform every crisis into a lever for mobilization and strengthening our position.

Leaving Dakhla, one thing was clear: this training was not just an academic exercise. It was a powerful reminder that our commitment must be constant, methodical, and always action-oriented. Every attack on our sovereignty is an opportunity to prove our strength. Every controversy is a chance to clarify our position. Every challenge is an opportunity to move forward.

As Churchill understood in 1945, crises are not inevitable. They are moments of transformation, provided we know how to seize them. Today, we have the tools, the arguments, and the determination to ensure that no attack on our territorial integrity is a wasted opportunity, but always a springboard for a reasoned and effective diplomatic offensive. This does not mean we should improvise; on the contrary, every action must be part of a well-thought-out strategy and clearly defined communication in advance.