Top diplomats from Morocco, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger convened in Marrakech, Morocco, to discuss a new initiative for the Sahel region. The meeting, held on Saturday, centered around a proposal by Moroccan King Mohammed VI to grant Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. The initiative, proposed earlier in November, aims to integrate the Sahel into global trade networks by utilizing Morocco’s road, port, and rail infrastructures.
The diplomats acknowledged the importance of upgrading infrastructure in the Sahel and connecting it to existing transport and communication networks in the region. In a joint communique, they expressed gratitude for Morocco’s offer and agreed to establish a National Task Force in each country to further the initiative’s implementation.
The Sahel region, a semiarid area of western and north-central Africa, faces challenges like poverty, development issues, and climate change. This meeting marks a collaborative effort to address these challenges by boosting the region’s participation in international trade.