The Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have endorsed an initiative offering them access to global trade through Morocco’s Atlantic ports.
Their foreign ministers announced during a meeting with King Mohammed VI in Rabat.
The three countries, now aligned under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) after withdrawing from ECOWAS, view the move as a critical step to diversify trade routes following sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
Morocco, a major investor in West Africa, unveiled the Atlantic access initiative in November 2023 as part of efforts to strengthen ties with the Sahel region.
The meeting between the AES ministers and Moroccan officials reflects deepening cooperation at a time of strained relations between the AES and Algeria, Morocco’s rival, which supports the Polisario Front’s claim for Western Sahara independence.
