Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity
São Tomé and Príncipe has reiterated its steadfast support for Morocco's territorial integrity and the Autonomy plan proposed for the Sahara region, which has garnered the endorsement of the UN Security Council through its resolution 2797. During a meeting on Tuesday in Rabat with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz, the Foreign Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, emphasized that the Moroccan Autonomy plan stands as the only credible and pragmatic solution to the ongoing Sahara regional dispute. She praised the remarkable socio-economic advancements achieved in the Moroccan Southern Provinces, attributing this progress to the New Development Model, which fosters stability, security, and regional cooperation.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
In her address, Amado Vaz highlighted the advancements made in bilateral cooperation, which is guided by a cooperation roadmap set to span from 2025 to 2027. This roadmap aims to broaden collaboration into new priority sectors, including education, training, multisectoral technical cooperation, and the enhancement of economic exchanges and investments. The two officials expressed their mutual determination to further strengthen bilateral relations, aiming to establish a model of intra-African cooperation grounded in solidarity and mutually beneficial partnerships. During the meeting, the São Toméan Foreign Minister commended the royal initiatives that benefit the continent, praising the monarch's leadership and unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and development across Africa. She reaffirmed her commitment to fostering bilateral relations and developing a strategic partnership that aligns with the principles of international law and mutual respect.
Both ministers acknowledged the positive momentum generated by the Process of African Atlantic States (PAAS), which aims to transform the African Atlantic region into a geostrategic framework that provides significant opportunities for synergy and cooperation among member countries. They identified strategic areas such as the environment, food security, health, energy, logistics interconnectivity, resource pooling, and the exchange of experiences as key focus points. Furthermore, Amado Vaz praised the King’s Initiative to facilitate access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries, as well as the Nigeria-Morocco African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, underscoring the strategic importance of these initiatives as part of Morocco’s commitment to active solidarity with African nations.
As reported by northafricapost.com.
