The Amadeus Institute and the Agricultural and Rural Prospective Initiative (IPAR) are pleased that the conference organized on March 29, 2018 in Dakar, under the theme “Accession of Morocco to ECOWAS: Foundations, Challenges and Common Perspectives” was the an opportunity for a frank and serene dialogue involving the various stakeholders of Senegal and Morocco.
Under the auspices of our joint initiative, controversial debates of great wealth have taken place between political leaders, consumer associations, trade unions, representatives of civil society and the private sector and Senegalese and Moroccan research centers.
Indeed, exchanges have explored, without complaisance, the political, social, economic and also anticipated security impact, engendered by the prospect of a Moroccan accession to ECOWAS. While recognizing the legitimacy of the Kingdom’s request, the Assembly believes that it nevertheless raises a series of important questions and presupposes the introduction of accompanying measures. Participants regretted that the process was limited to the formal request process to Heads of State and believes that the speed with which the agreement in principle was given at the Monrovia Summit did not leave enough room for debate. to understand the intentions, vision and contributions of a Moroccan accession to ECOWAS.
Conscious of the lack of communication on this highly important issue, the Amadeus Institute and IPAR call for a regional dialogue to be engaged in the different ECOWAS member countries among all stakeholders: State, civil society, private sector and research. This, in order to answer the questions of the populations on the impact of the adhesion of Morocco to the community and to propose together measures of accompaniment of this approach for a widening “win-win” deeply anchored in the desire for complementarity.
In addition, the amadeus Institute and the IPAR announce the creation of a joint Moroccan-Senegalese committee of watch and reflection on the negotiations on the accession of Morocco to the ECOWAS for which they will ensure the permanent secretariat. The committee will gather the necessary expertise to guide, inform and contribute to a better understanding of the effects of Morocco’s membership of the common institution in economic, social and security terms and will submit ideas and proposals likely to support a co-ordinated approach. built, active and supportive in the service of the regional development and stability agenda.
