Morocco Reaffirms Support for Somalia’s Sovereignty in High-Level Talks in Rabat
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch on Thursday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s steadfast support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during a meeting with Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in the capital Rabat.
Akhannouch welcomed Barre to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across political, economic, and security fields. According to a statement from the Head of Government’s office, he underscored King Mohammed VI’s commitment to deepening ties between Morocco and Somalia and reiterated Morocco’s support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, and Somalia’s sovereignty over its national territory.
During the meeting, Akhannouch also conveyed Morocco’s appreciation for Somalia’s consistent backing of Morocco’s territorial integrity, noting in particular Somalia’s vote in favor of UN Security Council Resolution 2797. Adopted on October 31, the resolution endorsed the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a credible political solution to the Western Sahara dispute. Somalia was one of 11 nations to support the landmark resolution.
Prime Minister Barre said his discussions with Akhannouch centered on reinforcing bilateral cooperation and opening new prospects for collaboration in economic and political spheres. He is currently in Morocco as part of a high-level delegation attending the MEDays Forum in Tangier.
At the event’s opening ceremony on Wednesday, Barre proposed the creation of an African Atlantic Alliance for Maritime Security, arguing that the existing system faced “structural and functional dysfunction” and could no longer be fully relied upon.
Morocco and Somalia maintain positive diplomatic ties, though commercial exchanges remain modest. Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) shows that in 2023, Morocco exported goods worth $317,000 to Somalia, primarily refined petroleum ($177,000), packaged medicaments ($75,100), and confectionery sugar ($44,800). Moroccan exports to Somalia grew at an annualized rate of 4.63% between 2018 and 2023.
Meanwhile, Somalia exported $587,000 worth of goods to Morocco in 2023, consisting entirely of insect resins. However, the volume has stagnated over the past five years, with OEC noting an annualized decline of 0.0019% from 2018 to 2023.
Both sides expressed readiness to work toward expanding cooperation and developing new areas of partnership to match their longstanding diplomatic rapport.
