Benin- Morocco \ Newslooks . The Foreign Minister of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, and his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, emphasized the significance of bilateral relations driven by the will of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and his brother, President Patrice Talon, during a phone conversation on Tuesday.
Both ministers reiterated the importance of active solidarity and mutually beneficial partnership as the foundation of their bilateral relationship. In this regard, the Beninese Foreign Minister reaffirmed the Republic of Benin’s support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and reiterated his country’s backing for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as the only credible and realistic solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara.
In this context, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari assured Mr. Bourita that in the revision of the diplomatic and consular map, he would advocate for Benin to establish a consular presence in Laâyoune, in the Moroccan Sahara.
He also informed that he would undertake a mission to Dakhla to witness the economic and social development of the region and to establish partnerships there.
Furthermore, the two ministers agreed to hold the 7th Joint Moroccan-Benin Cooperation Commission in Cotonou at the beginning of 2024. They were pleased with the good preparation of this commission, marked by the finalization of agreements and memorandums in various cooperation areas, reflecting the two countries’ desire to bring new dynamics to their already excellent relations, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans residing abroad.
Mr. Nasser Bourita, highlighting the importance of the human dimension, informed his Beninese counterpart of the decision to increase the number of scholarships for Beninese cadre training in Morocco. He also noted that, as part of facilitating free movement between the two countries, Morocco would consider with due attention the visa exemption for Beninese citizens holding ordinary passports.
Meanwhile, Beninese citizens will benefit from the e-Visa facility starting January 1, 2024, which has been developed since 2023 with friendly and brotherly countries of the Kingdom.
