Speaker at the opening session of the 5th High Level Meeting of Heads of Counter-Terrorism and Security Agencies in Africaorganized as part of the Marrakech Platformheld in El Jadida, under the co-chairmanship of Morocco and of United Nations Office for the Fight against Terrorism (ONUCT)the minister spoke of the security context on the continent.
Nasser Bourita thus noted several worrying developments, notably the expansion and regionalization of terrorism on the continent, the multiplication of armed conflicts, the development of the nexus between terrorist groupsTHE separatist movements and the transnational crimeas well as the challenges posed by technological change and artificial intelligence.
Faced with these challenges, the minister stressed that the Royal Vision offers a global framework for understanding African realities. He recalled that the African politics of His Majesty the King is above all a policy of belonging, specifying that for the MoroccoAfrica is not a neighboring continent, nor one diplomatic option among others, but a continent to which the Kingdom belongs geographically, identity-wise, politically, institutionally and historically.
Mr. Bourita stressed that, in accordance with the enlightened Vision of His Majesty the King, the Kingdom’s action in Africa is based on the conviction that the development, stability and security of the continent are intimately linked to those of Morocco. In this sense, he affirmed that Morocco’s commitment to fight against terrorism on the African continent is not an option, but comes from the responsibility of a country committed to the security of its continent.
The minister also highlighted the principle of Afro-optimism which guides the Kingdom’s action, noting that despite the security challengesTHE Morocco considers that Africa is the continent of the future. Where some mainly perceive difficulties, the Kingdom sees opportunities and remains convinced that the continent has the resources, means and genius necessary to meet the challenges it faces.
Mr. Bourita also recalled that His Majesty the King has always defended a global approach to security challenges, considering that the response to terrorism cannot only be security but must also integrate religious, economic and social dimensions.
The minister also highlighted the pragmatic pan-Africanism promoted by the Sovereign, based on concrete action, partnership and sharing, emphasizing, in this sense, that sharing is at the heart of the African policy of His Majesty the King.
Mr. Bourita also noted the relevance of Royal Initiatives in favor of the continent, in particular the Atlantic African States Initiative, the Initiative aimed at facilitating access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean as well as the actions carried out by the Kingdom in terms of resilience to climate change, all initiatives based on a positive approach to the continent’s challenges and the promotion of its opportunities.
Furthermore, the minister, on this occasion, highlighted the place now occupied by the Marrakech Platform, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, stressing that it has established itself as an essential framework and a reference meeting for discussing the fight against terrorism on the African continent. He also welcomed the commitment of theONUCTbelieving that this reflects another facet of the sustainability of the solid, structured and future-oriented partnership between Morocco and this UN Office.
Concluding his intervention, the minister stressed that stability is the starting point for development and democracy, before calling for Africa’s voice to be heard more in the updating of the United Nations counter-terrorism strategybelieving that if Africa is today the epicenter of global terrorism, it must be at the heart of this strategy.
Launched in 2022, the Marrakech Platform brings together the heads of African counter-terrorism and security agencies, as well as representatives of partner countries and regional and international organizations, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and coordination in the face of the continent’s security challenges. This meeting is a continuation of previous editions held in Marrakech (2022), Tangier (2023), Fez (2024) and Agadir (2025), establishing the platform as an essential meeting for the exchange of expertise, capacity building and the fight against terrorism in Africa.
