Dr. Mahmoud Zakaria‏‏

Relations between Morocco and South Africa have been increasingly unstable and riven with tensions of late. This has been demonstrated in several incidents, most recently a showdown over the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council, for which elections were held on January 10. South Africa had claimed that Morocco’s human rights record disqualified it for the role, while Morocco accused South Africa of obstructing efforts to fill the position. The election resulted in Morocco assuming the Council’s presidency for 2024, with its ambassador Omar Zniber receiving 30 votes against 17 for the South African candidate. Yet there are many other aspects to the deepening confrontation between the two countries, with a number of potential consequences.

Explaining the Escalating Diplomatic Clash Between South Africa and Morocco

Diplomatic Conflict:

InterRegional for Strategic Analysis

Recent years have witnessed growth in the relationship between Morocco and India. This has come as Morocco adopts a policy of diversifying sources of weapons and military equipment. At the same time, Morocco’s interest in diversifying its international partners reflects the Kingdom’s attempt to achieve strategic gains. Perhaps most important, Morocco seeks India’s support in the Western Sahara issue and other matters of importance to the Kingdom. This is to say nothing of the development of Morocco’s economic relations with India, which is considered a rising global power with influence on the international order.

Why Has Morocco Moved to Enhance its Military Cooperation with India?

Turning East:

Hussein Maaloum‏‏

Spain’s brief tenure as president of the Council of the EU—from the beginning of July through the end of December of this year—brings high hopes for resolving challenges that Madrid and Rabat both face, such as terrorist threats, violent separatist movements, migration, and development. This is especially important given ongoing economic and diplomatic rapprochement between Spain and Morocco. The latter has become a strategic partner for Spain following an April 2022 deal between the two countries. Morocco has also become a close partner of many other European countries over the past two years.

How Can Morocco Utilize Spain’s Presidency of the Council of the EU?

A Productive Partnership:

Dr. Hamdy Bashir‏‏

Morocco has sought to expand its influence in Mali through pursuing various kinds of active diplomacy. Mali’s Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla unveiled the Mohamed VI Perinatal Clinic in Bamako on 12 July 2022, alongside Idriss Asbayen, the Moroccan ambassador to Mali. This has raised questions about why Morocco has become increasingly interested in Mali. Moroccan has focused on various ways of strengthening its involvement in Mali, especially through diplomatic efforts to mediate talks between the Malian government and ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) to lift sanctions on Mali. Moroccan has also engaged in spiritual and religious diplomacy via Sufi orders, in addition to providing medical aid and promoting economic cooperation. Moroccan foreign policy aims to strengthen ties with Mali due to its geographic proximity, natural resources, and because of Morocco’s rivalry with Algeria in diplomatic and political spheres.

Morocco

الإصدارات

الأكثر مشاهدة