Morocco and Mali Strengthen Ties in Sustainable Development and Climate Action
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: In a high-level virtual meeting held today, Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, engaged in comprehensive discussions with her Malian counterpart, Mariam Tangara Doumbia, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation on climate and environmental challenges.
The dialogue focused on reinforcing solidarity-based partnerships, enhancing regional integration, and launching joint projects rooted in knowledge transfer and sustainable innovation.
Minister Benali emphasized that Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, places Africa at the core of its strategic engagements, highlighting the nation’s commitment to a new generation of South-South partnerships centered on efficiency, unity, and tangible results.
She also outlined Morocco’s regional efforts, notably the Royal Atlantic Initiative for the Sahel and Mali’s active participation in the Sahel Climate Committee — a key platform for regional climate cooperation.
Driving Practical Cooperation and Innovation
Benali called for practical discussions to operationalize cooperation in key areas such as technology transfer, capacity building, and climate adaptation. She praised Mali’s commitment to sustainability and referenced past joint efforts, including close coordination during Morocco’s presidency of the United Nations Environment Assembly.
For her part, Minister Tangara Doumbia commended Morocco’s leadership in energy transition, climate finance, and environmental governance. She expressed Mali’s interest in leveraging Moroccan expertise in renewable energy, waste valorization, and environmental training systems.
Tangara Doumbia also highlighted Mali’s urgent challenges: energy shortages, poor solid waste management, water pollution from unregulated mining, and rapid agricultural land degradation. She advocated for integrated approaches using circular economy principles, such as converting waste into clean energy and organic fertilizers.
Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future
In response, Minister Benali affirmed Morocco’s readiness to support Mali with its experience in sustainable agriculture, land restoration, and renewable energy deployment. She cited the OCP Group, its R&D arm InnoVx, and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University as key contributors to regional research on soil regeneration and sustainable farming, especially in arid zones.
Both ministers agreed to accelerate technical talks between their respective teams to define a clear cooperation framework, with a formal agreement targeted in the near future.
They also committed to launching joint field projects on waste valorization, climate resilience, and circular economy development, reinforcing their shared ambition to build a climate-resilient and environmentally sovereign future for the region.
