At the meeting, held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Initiative, Morocco called for concrete regional and sub-regional cooperation in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Morocco also reiterated its commitment to strengthening African capacities in the field of WMD non-proliferation, in line with the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the peace, security and development of the continent

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Redouane Houssaini, Director of United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry, deplored the fact that African priorities remain under-represented on the global WMD non-proliferation agenda

This under-representation of African priorities in the agenda contrasts with Africa’s complex security situation, faced with the intersecting challenges of violent extremism, terrorism, separatism, mercenarism and organized cross-border crime, he noted

These phenomena constitute risk factors for the proliferation of WMD to non-state actors with terrorist and separatist aspirations, he warned, stressing that this striking situation requires the international community to review existing security analysis frameworks.

Mr. Houssaini stressed that, given the weakness, or even absence, of regional and subregional cooperation, Morocco’s security services remain particularly vigilant to the evolution of the threat posed by the proliferation of WMD to non-state actors in Africa, in particular terrorist and separatist groups

The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the PSI should be an opportunity to take stock of achievements as well as current and emerging challenges, said the official, stressing the importance of mobilizing the political will of member states to realize the PSI’s vocation to become a key operational platform for the exchange of best practices in the field of non-proliferation, within the framework of results-oriented multilateralism

In this respect, he recalled Morocco’s active commitment to the development and operationalization of the PSI, alongside the United States, notably through the organization of a regional meeting for North Africa in Tangier in December 2022, which was an important step in the establishment of an African inter-regional cooperation architecture in the field of non-proliferation

Continuing this commitment, the Moroccan diplomat announced that in 2024 the Kingdom, together with the United States, would organize a regional PSI meeting for African states to promote the Initiative’s strategic objectives among these states

Morocco has been invited to attend the Jeju meeting as a keynote speaker to present its analysis of the challenges facing PSI in Africa

For his part, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, speaking at the meeting, welcomed Morocco’s partnership with the United States of America within the PSI framework, a partnership that will be strengthened by further operational actions aimed at African countries in 2024, making Morocco a model in the WMD non-proliferation

The Jeju meeting will endorse a joint declaration, supported by over 80 countries, including Morocco, calling for enhanced regional and international cooperation in the field of WMD non-proliferation, in the face of the emerging security dynamics that mark the current geopolitical context

Mr. Redouane Houssaini, Director of United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, led the Moroccan delegation at the meeting, which also included senior officials from the National Defense Administration and the General Directorate of National Security

The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a voluntary multilateral cooperation framework launched in 2003, of which Morocco is a founding member, to implement the Interdiction Principles. It aims to strengthen operational cooperation between the various ministries and national agencies responsible for security, through measures to combat the illicit transport of WMD, their delivery systems and related materials