Month: July 2026

Cotonou witnessed productive discussions this week as Bénin and Morocco reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation during preparations for jointly chairing the seventh session of the Morocco-Benin Joint Cooperation Commission. The high-level meeting brought together key officials from both nations, including Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, alongside Bénin's Foreign Minister overseeing Afro-descendant integration, Ms. Corinne Amori Brunet, and the Minister Delegate for Resource Mobilization and Debt Management, Mr. Hugues Oscar Lokossou. Both sides celebrated significant progress achieved across multiple sectors since His Majesty King Mohammed VI's historic visit to Cotonou in June 2004. The ...

Emmanuelle Blatmann, a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in African affairs, has been appointed as the next French Ambassador to Dakar, Senegal. At 46 years old, she brings a fresh perspective to the role, having led the Africa desk at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs since January 2024. Her upcoming assignment follows a period of significant shifts in the diplomatic landscape between France and Senegal. As she prepares to take over from Christine Fagès, Blatmann steps into a position that demands both diplomatic finesse and strategic insight, given the evolving dynamics of Franco-Senegalese relations. The appointment underscores France’s commitment to strengthening ties with West African nations, particularly Senegal, a key player in regional stability and economic ...

Rabat is set to host the African Maritime Forces Summit 2026 (AMFS 2026), running from July 20 to 24, under the leadership of the Royal Moroccan Navy. Partnering with the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVAF) and the U.S. Marine Forces Europe-Africa (MARFORAF), the event will spotlight maritime security and collaborative innovation as its core pillars. The summit’s agenda is structured around three key themes: “National policy innovation: inter-ministerial collaboration, regional cooperation with neighboring states, and technological advancements in maritime security.” The goal is clear—address shared maritime challenges through collective action, capacity-building, and strengthened partnerships. Tackling shared maritime threats Vice Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Royal Morocc...

Niamey has taken the lead in a pivotal diplomatic initiative spearheaded by the United Nations. Welcoming the UN Special Envoy, Sahle-Work Zewde, on Monday, Niger’s Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, positioned the nation at the heart of a mission poised to reshape the mandate of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The envoy’s tour will span key regional blocs, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Niamey kicks off a strategic UN assessment of Sahel operations The Niger visit marks the first stop in an extensive review of UNOWAS’s mandate, a task entrusted to Sahle-Work Zewde by the UN Security Council. During her meeting with the Nigerien leader, the former Ethiopian president outlined the fram...

mayo-tsanaga crisis: boko haram's devastation and state neglect Over 50 abandoned villages, thousands displaced, and a state that turns a blind eye. The threat of Boko Haram is no longer distant—it has taken root in Cameroon’s Mayo-Tsanaga region. What began as a distant conflict in Nigeria’s Borno State in the early 2000s has now become a daily nightmare for local communities. By 2014, the jihadist group had crossed into Cameroon, striking first at the village of Tourou, near the town of Mokolo, where its fighters set up camp on Mount Gossi. Since then, the violence has escalated, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Boko Haram’s attacks have spared no aspect of life in Mayo-Tsanaga. Homes, markets, places of worship, gendarmerie posts, schools, and health centers have all been targe...

DiplomacyKazakhstan-Morocco trade ties strengthen with direct import plansThe Kazakhstan government is seeking to import Moroccan goods directly, bypassing intermediaries, to access high-quality products from the Kingdom.The Kazakhstan government views the Kingdom of Morocco as a strategic partner, opening vast opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment, stated Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Kuantyrov during a press briefing in Rabat.During a meeting with Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, Kuantyrov confirmed his country’s intention to import Moroccan goods directly, eliminating intermediaries to secure premium-quality products from the Kingdom.The Kazakh delegation, led by Kuantyrov, is in Morocco to strengthen commercial and business ties. The ...