The position of the Republic of Zambia on the Moroccan Sahara issue has always been “constant” and “positive”, and consistent with international law and the interests of Morocco, stressed, on Friday, March 5, 2021, in Rabat, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, M. Nasser Bourita.
Speaking at a press briefing following talks with his Zambian counterpart, Mr. Joseph Malanji, who is on a working visit to Morocco, Bourita thanked Zambia for its “active” and “constant” support to the legitimate positions of Morocco.
“We often exchange on our bilateral relations and on regional issues, particularly within the African continent and within the framework of the African Union (AU),” Bourita stated. This work is being done within the framework of the roadmap established during the visit of H.M King Mohammed VI to Lusaka in 2017 and during which many agreements were signed and a vision for bilateral cooperation was laid out, he added.
Since then, “we are committed to implementing this roadmap with many concrete actions,” Bourita added.
Morocco’s FM stressed that bilateral economic exchanges have evolved by almost 25% since 2018, while political consultations are more regular and coordination is done on almost all issues.
Mr. Bourita also indicated that cooperation in the field of education has been strengthened, with the granting of nearly 100 scholarships to Zambia, including 30 in the southern provinces.
The diplomatic representations of Morocco in Lusaka and of Zambia in Rabat and Laayoune will strengthen interaction between the two countries and boost sectoral cooperation as they have an important role to play in supporting the positive momentum in bilateral relations, he concluded.
Talks between Mr. Bourita and Mr. Malanji took place in the presence of the chargé d’affaires of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Eliphas Chinyonga and the Consul of this country in Laayoune, Mr. Kelvin Malisase, who were installed in their new missions.
