King Mohammed VI Urges Africa to Take Ownership of Its Oceans at ‘Africa for the Ocean’ Summit
Nice, The Gulf Observer: In a powerful message delivered at the “Africa for the Ocean” Summit in Nice, King Mohammed VI of Morocco urged African nations to take decisive ownership of their maritime future, highlighting the ocean’s central role in the continent’s sustainable development, security, and unity.
The message, read by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who represented the monarch at the summit, emphasized that while Africa’s seas and oceans are teeming with potential, they remain underutilized and insufficiently protected.
“The Ocean Is Not a Border — It’s a Shared Opportunity”
Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, the summit brought together African leaders and global policymakers to focus on the stewardship of the continent’s more than 30,000-kilometre coastline. King Mohammed VI praised President Macron for his commitment to ocean protection and framed the summit as an “unprecedented” opportunity to reshape Africa’s maritime trajectory.
“The environment is a key element of ocean governance, but it is not its only facet. The ocean is also about our food sovereignty, our climate resilience, our energy security, and our territorial cohesion,” the King stated.
A Three-Pillar Vision for Africa’s Ocean Future
King Mohammed VI outlined a three-pillar strategy for African ocean stewardship:
- Strategic Development of the Blue Economy
The King stressed that investing in the ocean economy is no longer a luxury but a strategic necessity. He cited Morocco’s national strategy, which includes:- Sustainable aquaculture
- Offshore renewable energy
- Port development (Tanger Med, Nador West Med, and Dakhla Atlantic)
- Marine biotechnology
- Responsible coastal tourism
- Coordinated Continental Action
The monarch called on African nations to manage their oceans collectively by:- Building safer maritime trade routes
- Enhancing marine biodiversity protection
- Securing equitable access to ocean resources
- Inclusion of Landlocked Countries
The King emphasized the need to integrate landlocked Sahel countries into Africa’s ocean strategy by providing reliable sea access, referencing initiatives like the African Atlantic States Initiative and the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project as key examples.
A Call for Unity, Peace, and Shared Progress
Concluding his address, King Mohammed VI envisioned the Atlantic Ocean not as a dividing line, but as a space of unity and development for Africa.
“The ocean is, and will remain, a link, a shared space which we must protect and turn into an area that promotes peace, stability and development.”
The summit marked a significant step toward a unified African voice on ocean governance, with Morocco positioning itself as a leader in promoting blue economy policies and maritime integration across the continent.
