Assahafa.com
The seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Atlantic African States Process (AASP) opened on Monday in Cotonou under the joint chairmanship of Morocco and Benin, as participating countries seek to deepen cooperation and reinforce political coordination across the African Atlantic region.
According to a statement from Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting aims to “strengthen the political momentum of this African partnership under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI.”
The Moroccan delegation is led by Mohamed Methqal, Ambassador and Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI). It also includes Tarek Iziraren, Permanent Secretary of the Atlantic African States Process, Morocco’s Ambassador to Benin Rachid Rguibi, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates.
Advancing Morocco’s Atlantic vision
The ministry said the Atlantic African States Process is part of King Mohammed VI’s vision to transform the African Atlantic region into “an area of peace, stability, and shared prosperity.”
Launched in Rabat in June 2022, the initiative has evolved into a platform for strengthening political dialogue and practical cooperation among African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Since its inception, the process has established a permanent secretariat based in Rabat, created three thematic working groups, and adopted a joint action program covering political dialogue, security, the blue economy, maritime connectivity, energy, and marine environmental protection.
Building on previous milestones
The foreign ministry highlighted that successive ministerial meetings held in Rabat, New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, and Praia in May 2025 have produced declarations and action plans aimed at expanding cooperation among Atlantic African states.
These initiatives have focused on strengthening maritime security and connectivity, preserving fisheries resources, supporting the energy transition, and promoting sustainable development across the region.
According to the ministry, the Cotonou meeting builds on these achievements and seeks to “further enhance coordination among member states in support of the integration and shared development of the Atlantic African region.”
The Atlantic African States Process reflects Morocco’s broader diplomatic efforts to promote regional integration and foster closer cooperation among African countries sharing the Atlantic coastline through joint action on security, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
