Rabat – An international seminar organised to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Establishment Convention between Morocco and Senegal opened on Monday in Rabat, in the presence of a host of political, diplomatic, economic, and academic figures.
Placed under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI and the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, this meeting is organised at the initiative of the “Timbuktu Institute–African Center For Peace Studies” in partnership with the International University of Rabat (UIR) and the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG).
Speaking at the opening of this event, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, highlighted the historical and fraternal ties uniting Morocco and Senegal, particularly on the cultural and human levels. “This fraternity is ancestral; it is in our DNA,” she exclaimed.
Addressing the ambitions of both countries in the digital field, she indicated that Rabat and Dakar are driven by the desire to make Africa a major player in global governance regarding artificial intelligence (AI).
“Africa cannot remain a spectator in the face of regulations imposed by other powers in this matter; it must have its say,” she insisted, advocating for a unified continental approach.
The urgency is to train and include African youth in the technological revolution, the minister continued, adding that Africa must imperatively prepare its youth for the challenges of the digital age.
For her part, the Secretary General of the CDG, Latifa Echihabi, stressed that the anniversary of the Establishment Convention between Morocco and Senegal is an opportunity to celebrate the institutional and human ties uniting the two countries.
Referring to the cooperation between the CDG and a dozen African deposit funds, she noted that this cooperation has been strengthened by the creation of a platform for exchange and dialogue within the framework of the Forum of Deposit Funds, launched in 2011 in Marrakech.
She also reviewed the cooperation agreements signed between the CDG and the Caisse des DĂ©pĂ´ts et Consignations of Senegal in several strategic areas, including savings, finance, and investment, noting that both funds act as levers for inclusive and sustainable development.
For her part, the Senegalese Ambassador to Morocco, Seynabou Dial, emphasised the historical and exceptional ties uniting Rabat and Dakar, stressing that “Morocco is our second country, just as Senegal is for Moroccans.”
The Senegalese diplomat highlighted the visionary nature of the 1964 Establishment Convention, which guarantees mobility, access to public employment, and freedom of establishment between the two countries.
Ms. Seynabou Dial also called for reflection on adapting this Convention to contemporary challenges, highlighting the key role of diasporas in strengthening the spirit of fraternity between the two countries.
As for the President of the UIR, Noureddine Mouaddib, he highlighted the close ties that the UIR maintains with Senegal, notably through partnerships with the Gaston-Berger University of Saint-Louis, the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD), and the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa (IFAN) – Cheikh Anta DIOP (IFAN), among others.
“This dynamic must serve as a locomotive for African scientific research,” added Mr. Mouaddib, inviting stakeholders in Africa to a collective reflection on the economic integration of the continent.
This is a crucial challenge, especially since the number of African students will triple by 2030, rising from 9 to 27 million, he continued, noting that this figure represents a wealth and a lever for transformation.
Taking the floor, Bakary Sambe, Regional Director of the “Timbuktu Institute” Think Tank based in Dakar, praised the excellence of the relations between the two countries, rooted in a common history and a shared vision of the future of the African continent.
Likewise, he stressed that the Rabat-Dakar axis constitutes a lever for African integration, capable of inspiring the entire African continent, adding that the partnership between Morocco and Senegal embodies an exemplary synergy.
In a rapidly changing global context, marked by new geopolitical and climatic challenges, this alliance offers a solid foundation for building African responses to global issues, he continued, emphasising the importance of university cooperation to find African solutions to common challenges.
Signed in 1964, the Establishment Convention between Morocco and Senegal provides for numerous provisions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, notably the granting of the same rights to Senegalese established in Morocco as Moroccan citizens and vice versa.
This article Rabat: The Establishment Convention between Morocco and Senegal at the centre of an international seminar first appeared on MAP Express.