Strengthening Ties Between Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire in Laâyoune

On Friday, January 17, 2025, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, held talks with his Ivorian counterpart, Kacou Houadja Adom, in Laâyoune. The meeting was attended by the Wali of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Abdel Salam Bekrate, the region’s president, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, and the president of the Laâyoune commune, Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid, along with several local officials. This gathering took place ahead of the Morocco-Ivory Coast Joint Committee meeting in the city.

The talks revolved around enhancing bilateral relations between Rabat and Abidjan across various sectors, aligning with the historical ties between the two nations.

During the meeting, Ivorian Minister Kacou Houadja Adom highlighted the depth of the relationship between the two countries. He praised Morocco’s significant role in Africa and the development initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI to boost regional growth. The minister emphasized the importance of learning from Morocco’s development model, particularly in the southern provinces.

In the same vein, the Ivorian minister reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the sole solution to the conflict. This stance, clearly expressed by Côte d’Ivoire, was further solidified by the opening of its consulate general in Laâyoune on February 18, 2020.