Focusing on peace and security issues in the Sahel region, the meeting, held in collaboration with Morocco's embassy in London, was an opportunity for eminent experts in strategic and security issues, as well as career British diplomats, to take a close look at the various challenges facing the area, which is plagued by instability exacerbated by foreign interference and the proliferation of trafficking of all kinds.
During the in-depth debates at the meeting, several panelists took a particular interest in the Royal Atlantic Initiative, launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, calling it an "opportunity" that promises to transform an area perceived as a hotbed of instability into a haven of peace and economic and social development.
In his opening address, Morocco's ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, stressed that at a time when urgent conflicts dominate the global agenda, external actors and separatists are exploiting the lack of focus on the Sahel to sow instability and threaten the peace and security of the entire region.
The diplomat outlined Morocco's approach to tackling these risks, which involves not only fighting terrorism but also contributing to the conditions for lasting peace and stability in the region.
"We need to transform risks into opportunities. And this is the essence of Morocco's vision for the Sahel. It's an optimistic approach that rejects the idea that the Sahel is inevitable," he said.
Mr. Hajoui then outlined the Royal Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty the King, highlighting its virtues before calling for closer collaboration with the United Kingdom and international allies.
He also recalled the importance of the Sahara issue in this context. "The Sahara issue is a key element in this discussion. The link between security and development is the only way forward for our prosperity, as is the Autonomy Plan for the Moroccan Sahara, which not only reinforces Morocco's role as a stronghold of security but also serves as a catalyst for the development of the entire region," he explained.
The unique links that Morocco has maintained over the centuries with the Sahel region were highlighted by the experts who took the floor at this panel discussion.
"Morocco plays a very important role in the region," observed a security consultant at an international intelligence firm. The model of cooperation offered by Morocco in the Sahel region is "very interesting," she said, highlighting the importance of the Royal Atlantic Initiative and the Port of Dakhla Atlantique.
These projects "offer great development opportunities," she added, citing also the development assistance initiatives launched by Morocco in favor of Sahel countries.
It is this kind of involvement that the region needs to combat the "precariousness" exploited and exacerbated by separatist movements and armed groups, according to the researcher.
For his part, a founder and executive director of a center for strategic studies on the Sahel paid tribute to Morocco's ongoing efforts to promote stability and development in the region, citing in particular the training of Malian imams in Morocco.
The countries of the region need this kind of socio-economic project to stem the roots of violent extremism, he noted, calling for greater attention to be paid to the real needs of the people of the Sahel.
Morocco's role as a key player for peace and stability in the Sahel region and beyond in North Africa and the Middle East was explored by a former British ambassador who served in the region. "Morocco enjoys a transatlantic dimension that reinforces its stature and role," he said.
In his opinion, Morocco's vital geostrategic position at the crossroads between different continents and cultures reinforces the Kingdom's positioning.
On cooperation between Morocco and the UK, the diplomat emphasized that Morocco's active and promising approach to stability in the Sahel zone seems to be in harmony with the UK's priorities in the region.
Recalling the strategic dialogue between the two countries, he stressed that Rabat and London, with their close cooperative ties in many vital sectors, "have a vast agenda of common interests to explore."
The strengthening of this Moroccan-British partnership "is very important for stabilizing the Sahel and neighboring regions," he added.
"Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of security and defense is intense and has taken huge steps forward," observed the diplomat, who was keen to recall the leading role that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has always played in resolving the Middle East conflict.
Held under the theme “Sahel Geopolitics: transnational threats, security, and stability," the round table brought together experts, former diplomats, former defense ministers, and British officials.