The 15th session of the Joint High Commission between Morocco and Senegal, held in Rabat, marked a significant advancement in bilateral relations, with the signing of 17 cooperation frameworks across various sectors. Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Senegalese counterpart Ousmane Sonko underscored the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations, emphasizing a shared vision for strategic partnerships and regional integration. DR ‹ › With 17 cooperation frameworks covering infrastructure, public policy, higher education, and economic innovation, alongside a memorandum of understanding and a joint communiqué, the 15th session of the Joint High Commission between Morocco and Senegal marked a qualitative leap in bilateral relations on Monday in Rabat. Opening the session, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, joined by his Senegalese counterpart Ousmane Sonko, highlighted «the cultural and human ties that characterize the historical relations between our two countries, spanning several centuries and rooted in a long-standing tradition of brotherhood». These ties, rich in both human and economic dimensions, were forged through regional trade routes that played a decisive role in bringing the two countries closer, particularly via Senegal, strengthening exchanges on both sides for centuries, Akhannouch noted. This historical dynamic, he said, has made the Morocco–Senegal relationship a lasting bond rather than a circumstantial one. «Added to this is the religious and spiritual dimension, which constitutes one of the pillars of our relations», he explained. «The institution of the Commander of the Faithful and the Sufi orders, particularly those linked to the Tijaniyya tariqa, have long occupied a central place in the cultural ties between our two countries», Akhannouch recalled, noting the eight visits paid by King Mohammed VI to Senegal. A cooperation reinforced by political support In the same vein, the head of government recalled that Morocco and Senegal are bound by more than 140 cooperation agreements. «In this context, today's meeting is part of a continuous dynamic and offers a new opportunity to assess the progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation since the last session, with a view to achieving shared development and addressing common challenges», Akhannouch said. He noted that the period between the two sessions was marked by the implementation of numerous sectoral programs. Beyond the organization of an economic forum on the sidelines of the session, the meeting also aimed to «give new momentum to bilateral relations between Moroccan and Senegalese economic actors, notably through the signing of a series of agreements covering priority sectors». In this context, Akhannouch highlighted the interest shown by King Mohammed VI in the strategic initiative aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries, describing it as an effort to «make Atlantic Africa a geopolitical framework offering significant opportunities for integration and cooperation among member states, particularly in areas such as the environment, food security, health, energy, logistics, resource pooling, and the exchange of expertise». He also underscored the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline as a «symbol of South–South cooperation», in which Senegal «undoubtedly plays a central role». In another context, Akhannouch praised Senegal's support «within continental and international organizations for Morocco's national cause, particularly its territorial integrity, its sovereignty over its Sahara, and the autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2797 as the only solution to this regional dispute». Cooperation beyond circumstances For his part, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko praised the quality of relations between Dakar and Rabat, saying he was «particularly touched by the exceptional organization surrounding this visit». According to him, the friendship between the two countries reflects «a shared history that also highlights the role of sport in creating synergies between the two states», especially as Morocco recently hosted the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025). Beyond the emotions stirred by sport, particularly football, Sonko stressed that ties between Morocco and Senegal run much deeper and extend across multiple sectors. They involve students and entrepreneurs and are built on political trust and a historically rooted dynamic. «This is therefore not a journey of appeasement, but one of confirmation (…) The Senegalese–Moroccan friendship must be secured», he declared. In this regard, Sonko highlighted «the bond between two nations that respect one another, recognize one another, and project themselves together». «It is also the expression of our shared ambition to consolidate strategic partnerships, with a common desire to diversify them», he added. Echoing his Moroccan counterpart, the Senegalese Prime Minister praised the momentum of the Joint Commission, which he described as a platform capable of expanding cooperation through the signing of legal instruments, in order to «work toward the prosperity of both states». Article modifié le 26/01/2026 à 17h44
