The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, received the High Representative of the Coalition for the Sahel, the Mauritanian Hamadi Meimou, in Rabat on Friday. The meeting underscores Morocco's role in regional security efforts. The Coalition for the Sahel, based in Brussels, was established at the G5 Sahel summit held in Pau on January 13, 2020. The launch ceremony was attended by the presidents of France, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also present. Since then, the body has seen the departure of three of its founding members: Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. On September 16, 2023, these three countries launched the Alliance of Sahel States. On December 23 in Marrakech, the three states and Chad also announced their support for King Mohammed VI's initiative to give Sahel countries access to the Atlantic. Mauritania is yet to decide on joining the new group, despite Nasser Bourita's invitation to his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Oul Merzoug, on January 22 in Rabat. «Mauritania has its place, its role and it is an essential player in this initiative, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI», the head of diplomacy said in a statement to the press.
