The Kingdom of Morocco has significantly stepped up its strategic positioning within the African Union (AU) since its historic reintegration in 2017. Following extensive regional consultations across North Africa, the country secured multiple high-level positions within the continental organization’s key structures.
This heightened representation underscores Morocco’s expanding role in continental governance, reflecting its unwavering commitment to the AU’s core priorities—from institutional reforms and good governance to financial sustainability, economic integration, and tackling major development challenges.
Nine key positions secured in AU governance
Morocco now holds nine influential roles, leading its subregion in elected positions. Among these, the Kingdom will serve as vice-president of the ministerial committee overseeing African candidacies within international systems. It will also take up the vice-presidency of the contributions committee, a critical body responsible for assessing member states’ financial contributions.
In specialized technical committees—essential for shaping common policies—the Moroccan delegation will participate in the justice and legal affairs committee, as well as the economic development, tourism, trade, industry, and mining resources committee.
Additionally, Morocco has been named vice-president of the permanent representatives’ bureau for institutional reforms and will chair the subcommittee on environmental issues. Its involvement extends further to the subcommittee dedicated to human rights, democracy, and governance.
Morocco’s diplomatic footprint was further reinforced with its election to the board of the African Centre for Migration Studies and Research. This appointment enables Moroccan experts to actively contribute to the institution’s work, aligning with the vision of King Mohammed VI, which emphasizes a humanitarian, solidarity-driven, and shared-responsibility approach to migration.
The strategic significance of Morocco’s AU return
Morocco officially re-joined the AU on January 30, 2017, during the Addis Ababa summit, ending a 33-year absence that began with its withdrawal from the Organization of African Unity in 1984. This move marked a decisive break from a policy of disengagement and paved the way for major diplomatic achievements, particularly in advancing territorial integrity.
The Kingdom’s diplomacy successfully shifted the handling of the Western Sahara issue from a reactive stance to an initiative-driven approach, effectively neutralizing adversarial maneuvers within AU bodies.
This pragmatic strategy has provided Morocco with a direct platform to champion its fundamental interests. The bold diplomatic initiatives of recent years have fostered a smooth reintegration and accelerated the signing of bilateral agreements with numerous African states, ushering in a new era of economic cooperation and continental cohesion.
