Assahafa.com
The MEDays 2025 Summit in Tangier continued on Thursday with a session on Africa’s blue economy.
The panel, “From Seas to Sources: Developing Africa’s Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future,” brought together former ministers, financial leaders, and logistics experts to discuss how African countries can use their seas and rivers while protecting fragile ecosystems.
Its maritime zones cover over 13 million square kilometers and support about 50 million people. Yet much of this potential is not fully used because of weak governance, illegal fishing, and limited institutional capacity.
Somalia’s view: resources and security
Former Somalian Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud spoke about the gap between Africa’s natural wealth and its limited control.
He said the continent is often called “rich in resources but poor in management,” as foreign operators exploit fishing grounds while local communities face poverty and climate pressures. He also mentioned tensions in the Horn of Africa over sea access.
Somalia has one of the longest coastlines, while nearby landlocked countries seek deeper maritime routes. Mohamud argued these demands should be managed through business agreements rather than political pressure to maintain regional stability.
After the panel, the former diplomat told Morocco World News (MWN) that returning to the MEDays Forum for the fourth time showed him how African dialogue is changing.
He called MEDays “a place of exchange, debate, and learning,” and said the session on the blue economy showed the urgent need to protect Africa’s seas.
On Morocco’s role, he said the country must safeguard its sovereignty while making full use of its ocean resources. “Tangier connects Africa with Europe and the rest of the world,” he noted, citing transport, logistics, tourism, and mineral extraction as key parts of Morocco’s maritime strategy.
He added that the future of African maritime security will depend less on naval force and more on knowledge, innovation, and technology. “It is no longer about taking guns and going to the sea,” he said. “It’s about protecting, using technology.”.
Madagascar’s ongoing challenge
For his part, Former Malagasy Foreign Minister Patrick Rajoelina spoke about the infrastructure problems facing island nations.
Madagascar, though it has thousands of kilometers of coastline, depends on foreign transit ports because its own capacity is limited.
He said expanding and modernizing ports is necessary to cut import costs and support key exports like vanilla and seafood.
The former diplomat also pointed to the need to protect local fishing communities from industrial fleets that operate illegally in the region. Rajoelina recalled urging major fishing nations to stop practices that harm African coastal economies.
Financial and institutional needs for a blue economy
The discussion then turned to the financial and institutional side of developing a blue economy. Mohammed Fikrat, President of the Management Board of Crédit Agricole Morocco, said maritime growth must be tied to national economic strategies, not treated as a separate sector.
He explained that a strong blue economy requires cooperation between institutions, professionals, and long-term human development plans.
Fikrat added that Morocco’s experience in agricultural financing shows how coordinated investment can help both local communities and national growth.
For coastal regions, he said, training, capacity building, and local expertise will be just as important as infrastructure.
Regional cooperation as a path forward
Speakers stressed the need for regional cooperation. Africa has 38 coastal countries and 16 landlocked states, many of which rely on maritime routes to reach global markets.
Speakers brought up the Atlantic Initiative, launched by King Mohammed VI in 2023, as a way to give Sahelian countries secure access to the ocean and strengthen economic integration.
Programs like the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) initiative, backed by the World Bank, were mentioned as signs that coordination is starting to improve.
The panel also agreed that the blue economy can drive Africa’s growth if countries adopt clear policies, invest in science, and improve maritime governance.
Transport, ports, marine resources, food security, and renewable energy together make the blue economy a long-term path for progress and stability.
The main challenge, they said, is to build strong institutions and partnerships that can turn Africa’s maritime potential into lasting development for future generations.
Source: Morocco word news
