His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, sent a Royal Message to the participants in the 2025 session of the "Ibrahim Governance Weekend" which opened today, Sunday, in Marrakech.
Below is the text of the Royal Message read by His Majesty's Advisor, Mr. André Azoulay.
"Praise be to God, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of God, his family and companions.
Mr. Mo Ibrahim, Chairman of the Foundation,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for us to address this message to you on the occasion of the 2025 session of the 'Ibrahim Governance Weekend', which is being held this year in Marrakech under our High Patronage, with the participation of a group of prominent figures from the fields of politics, economics, and civil society, to discuss a subject of great importance, namely development financing in Africa.
This forum is a unique opportunity to deepen the discussion on an issue that remains relevant, enabling us to work collectively to map out the future of a rising African continent that meets the legitimate aspirations of our peoples.
On this occasion, we would like to commend the tireless efforts of Mr. Mo Ibrahim and his foundation, which contribute significantly to enriching the debate on Africa's development and thinking about innovative solutions to face major current and future challenges.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our continent is suffering from the repercussions of multidimensional international crises, which continue to deepen inequalities and disparities between countries and regions. This situation limits the effectiveness of efforts aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and negatively affects the realization of our vision for the rich and prosperous Africa we aspire to.
However, these cyclical challenges should in no way dampen our shared will to move forward. Therefore, our continent must transform these challenges into opportunities for development and growth, work to leverage its assets, impose its own perspective on its development path, seek to develop local solutions to its problems, and take full control of its destiny.
It goes without saying that without sufficient and appropriate funding for Africa's specific needs, our continent will not be able to implement its reforms and development projects optimally. Therefore, mobilizing resources, as a necessary condition for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, is a prerequisite for the structural transformation of African economies.
In this regard, we would like to highlight four key pillars necessary for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in Africa:
First – Changing the model adopted for development financing: Our continent is called upon to mobilize more of its internal resources, carry out structural reforms to strengthen the macroeconomic framework, encourage innovative mechanisms for development financing, and effectively benefit from the financial remittances of African diasporas, as Africa can no longer rely solely on official development assistance or debt-creating external financing.
Second – Creating an institutional, economic, and social environment favorable to development: Stimulating investment and entrepreneurship, and thus creating jobs, requires accelerating the pace of reforms related to good governance in particular, improving the business climate, strengthening transparency, protecting investors, fighting corruption, and moralizing the justice system.
Third – Strengthening and stimulating intra-African trade: Economic integration of the African continent is no longer just an option, but an imperative necessity in a globalized world, where Africa's share of global trade does not exceed 3%, while intra-African trade represents 16% of total African trade, compared to 60% for Europe and 50% for Asia.
Furthermore, the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a golden opportunity to stimulate trade between African countries and make it a catalyst for growth and sustainable development on the continent, encouraging industrialization and strengthening the resilience and investment attractiveness of African economies.
Fourth – Comprehensive valuation of the natural resources the continent is endowed with: With 40% of global reserves of raw materials and 30% of strategic minerals, in addition to its great potential in mineral, energy, water, agricultural, and biological resources, it is no longer acceptable for Africa to be content with the role of exporter of its raw materials.
The time has come for Africa to reap the fruits of its potential, capabilities, and vast wealth, create added value, and provide new revenues to finance its development. However, achieving this goal remains dependent on investing in the transformation and local valuation of its natural resources, creating regional value chains, encouraging industrialization, creating jobs, and strengthening regional and sub-regional integration.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Morocco has succeeded in strengthening its role as a strategic catalyst for South-South partnerships and fulfilling its role as a natural bridge connecting the various regions of the continent and the countries of the South. This has led it to launch concrete and structuring projects that will sustainably transform the economic and social landscape of the continent.
This is the direction being implemented through major continental projects such as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which represents a true path for integration and integrated economic development.
In the same vein, and based on an approach based on solidarity and shared development, we recently launched the Atlantic Initiative to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, with the aim of establishing a solid foundation for a new model of regional cooperation. We also launched the Rabat Process for African Atlantic States, for the benefit of all parties.
Moreover, the expertise accumulated by Morocco in several strategic sectors, such as renewable energies, sustainable agriculture, financial services, and transport infrastructure, constitutes an important anchor for developing ties and partnerships at the continental level.
On the other hand, given Morocco's full awareness of the utmost importance of financing, it has adopted a strategic approach based on developing innovative financial mechanisms and the effective mobilization of national resources.
In this regard, the Mohammed VI Investment Fund stands out as a true tool for financial stimulus, capable of stimulating private investment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening technological innovation, and encouraging sustainable development. Casablanca Finance City has also succeeded in establishing its position as a major regional financial center, bringing significant financial flows to our continent.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Development is not achieved by a mere decision, but is built by adopting ambitious policies and investing in human capital and firm economic governance.
Therefore, efforts must be integrated at the national, regional, and global levels, enabling the financing gap for development to be bridged and contributing to building the edifice of a rising Africa, the Africa we all aspire to.
However, with the approach of the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Agenda, it has become necessary, now and not tomorrow, to place the issue of financing Africa's development at the heart of the international agenda.
Reducing the high interest rates imposed on African countries in international financial markets, accessing concessional financing and low-interest loans, strengthening the capacities of regional financial institutions to support African economies, improving Africa's representation within the international financial system in a way that respects its diversity, and reducing fees on remittances from African diasporas are all legitimate demands for which appropriate answers and solutions must be found.
In this context, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held in Seville at the end of this month, is a golden opportunity for African countries to continue this advocacy for urgent solutions to these demands.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We believe that development financing in Africa requires collective action, in which cooperation efforts at the regional and international levels are combined. The essential discussion on reforming the international financial system should also adopt a multilateral approach, in which African countries, which are often marginalized in the process of drafting and setting the rules of the global monetary and financial system, are fully involved.
This necessary reform must fundamentally ensure the strengthening of Africa's legitimate representation in international bodies, enabling actors in Africa to truly own the stakes and challenges they face, and the related solutions.
In conclusion, we can only emphasize that financing development in Africa remains a major challenge that requires innovative and solidarity-based solutions that suit the reality of the continent.
The Kingdom of Morocco will continue with determination to fulfill its duty in the effective mobilization of resources, strengthening strategic partnerships, and encouraging effective and efficient financial mechanisms, in line with its constructive vision for South-South cooperation and in fulfillment of its firm commitment to comprehensive and sustainable development for the benefit of African peoples.
We thank you for your attention, praying to God Almighty to crown your work with success.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God."
MAP