Sahel States Tap Morocco’s Atlantic Ports for Sea Access

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have signed off on an initiative granting them access to global trade through Morocco’s Atlantic ports. This agreement follows a meeting between the countries’ foreign ministers and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI in Rabat. The initiative comes after these Sahel states, led by military juntas, withdrew from the regional ECOWAS grouping in favor of forming the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Morocco, a significant investor in West Africa, introduced the trade access plan in response to ECOWAS trade restrictions following the coups. The move enhances the AES’s economic standing, diversifies trade routes, and strengthens Morocco’s influence in the Sahel.

Reuters