Bourita highlights Mohammed VI’s vision to counter terrorist and security threats across Africa

Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, on Tuesday in El Jadida laid out King Mohammed VI’s vision for addressing security threats in Africa and supporting the continent’s drive toward development and prosperity.

Speaking at the opening session of the 5th High-Level Meeting of Heads of Security and Counter-Terrorism Agencies in Africa — held under the Marrakech Platform and co-chaired by Morocco and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism — Bourita assessed the current regional security landscape.

Bourita highlighted several worrying developments, including:

• The expansion and regionalisation of terrorism across the continent.
• The multiplication of armed conflicts.
• The close link between terrorist groups, separatist movements, and transnational crime.
• Emerging challenges related to technological transformations and artificial intelligence.

Against this backdrop, Bourita emphasised that the Royal Vision offers a comprehensive framework for understanding African realities. He recalled that the King’s policy toward the region is fundamentally one of belonging. For Morocco, he stated, Africa is neither a neighbouring continent nor a mere diplomatic option, but a reality to which the country belongs geographically, identically, politically, institutionally, and historically.

Furthermore, Bourita stressed that Morocco’s approach is rooted in the conviction that the continent’s development, stability, and security are intrinsically linked to its own. He asserted that Morocco’s commitment to counter-terrorism is not optional but a historical responsibility toward the security of its environment.

The minister also highlighted the principle of afro-optimism that guides Morocco’s action. He noted that despite security challenges, Morocco sees Africa as the continent of the future, convinced that it possesses the resources, means, and ingenuity to meet its challenges.

About the Marrakech Platform

Launched in 2022, this initiative brings together heads of African security agencies as well as international partners to strengthen cooperation against common threats.

This new edition follows previous gatherings in Marrakech (2022), Tangier (2023), Fez (2024), and Agadir (2025), cementing the forum as a key event for exchanging experiences and building capacity across the continent.