Bourita outlines king Mohammed Vi’s vision to fight terrorist threats in Africa

During the Marrakech Platform, Morocco’s foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment to stability and so-called afro-optimism when facing the continent’s challenges.

Morocco’s minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation and Moroccans abroad, Nasser Bourita, presented on Tuesday in El Yadida the vision of King Mohammed VI to address security threats in Africa and support the continent’s momentum toward development and prosperity.

Speaking at the opening session of the fifth High-Level Meeting of heads of counter-terrorism and security agencies in Africa — held within the framework of the Marrakech Platform and co-chaired by Morocco and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism — the minister assessed the current regional security context.

Bourita highlighted several worrying trends, including:

• The expansion and regionalisation of terrorism across the continent.
• The rise in armed conflicts.
• The close ties between terrorist groups, separatist movements and transnational crime.
• Emerging challenges linked to technological change and artificial intelligence.

Faced with this situation, the minister stressed that the royal vision provides a comprehensive framework for understanding African realities, recalling that the King’s policy toward the region is above all a policy of belonging. In this regard, he said that for Morocco, Africa is neither a neighbouring continent nor a simple diplomatic option, but a reality to which the country belongs geographically, identically, politically, institutionally and historically.

Furthermore, Bourita emphasised that Morocco’s action is based on the conviction that the continent’s development, stability and security are intimately tied to the country’s own interests. This is why he stated that Morocco’s commitment to fighting terrorism is not optional but stems from a historical responsibility toward the security of its surroundings.

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

About the Marrakech Platform

Launched in 2022, this initiative brings together heads of African security agencies as well as international partners with the goal of strengthening cooperation against common threats.

This new edition follows previous meetings held in Marrakech (2022), Tangier (2023), Fez (2024) and Agadir (2025), confirming this forum as a key event for sharing experiences and building capacity on the continent.