The Strategic Role of Morocco in Promoting Stability in the Sahel
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank specializing in defense and security, recently published a document discussing Morocco’s strategic role in promoting stability in the Sahel.
According to the authors, due to its strategic geographical position and strong historical ties, Morocco, a true mediator in the region, occupies a central place in supporting the stability of the Sahel, which faces major challenges such as terrorism, cross-border crime, and political crises. The authors add that in the face of these challenges, Morocco’s actions become essential to ensure security and stability, which is achieved through Rabat’s commitment, not only due to its own interests but also by a profound sense of regional and historical solidarity.
The authors begin by highlighting what they consider, rightly, as one of the most ambitious initiatives implemented by Morocco to support the stability of the Sahel region: the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic, a key project due to its purpose of offering the landlocked countries of the Sahel direct access to international maritime routes via Moroccan ports, thus creating a dual effect, namely optimal conditions for regional economic integration and participation in reducing the dependence of Sahel countries on geopolitically unstable neighbors. They further add that this project, which is not limited to mere trade exchange, is part of a long-term vision aimed at establishing sustainable economic links and countering threats related to instability, terrorism, and transnational crime.
Continuing, the think tank states that beyond the Atlantic Initiative, Morocco is actively involved in the sustainable development of the Sahel, particularly alongside the United Kingdom, through infrastructure and energy projects, including the ambitious Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, which will connect West Africa’s energy resources to North Africa and Europe, as well as projects in strategic sectors such as telecommunications, infrastructure, and finance. Thus, contributing to the creation of an economic interdependence that, the article emphasizes, promotes peace and stability in the Sahel.