Luanda, August 31, 2026 – The Europe Today: Morocco has placed peace, security and stability in Africa among its strategic priorities under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said Sunday.
Akhannouch made the remarks while representing King Mohammed VI at an extraordinary session of the African Union focused on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa.
The session, held in Luanda, brought together African leaders and senior officials to discuss ways to enhance the continent’s capacity to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts.
Akhannouch highlighted Morocco’s continued contribution to mediation, peacekeeping, post-conflict reconstruction and initiatives aimed at preventing crises before they escalate.
He said Morocco’s approach was based on the recognition that peace, security and development were closely interconnected. Sustainable conflict prevention, he added, required addressing the underlying economic, social, institutional, climate-related and humanitarian factors that contribute to instability.
The Moroccan head of government stressed that peace could not be achieved solely through responses after conflicts had erupted. African countries, he said, should invest in conditions that promote lasting stability, including greater opportunities for young people, increased participation of women, employment creation and stronger food, water and energy security.
He also underscored the importance of infrastructure development, continental connectivity and economic integration as key components of broader peace-building efforts.
“It is necessary to gradually move from a logic of conflict management to a logic of building the conditions for peace and preventing conflicts before they break out,” Akhannouch said.
He further highlighted King Mohammed VI’s emphasis on effective and concrete African South-South cooperation, with the well-being of African citizens placed at its center.
According to Akhannouch, Morocco seeks to translate African solidarity into tangible projects covering areas including food security, water, energy, healthcare, vocational training, investment and infrastructure.
He also drew attention to emerging challenges threatening peace and stability across Africa, including climate change, water scarcity, terrorism, transnational organized crime and the proliferation of non-state armed groups.
Such groups, he said, posed serious risks to state authority, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also warned against external interference and the increasing threat posed by disinformation enabled by the misuse of modern technologies.
Akhannouch called for stronger African ownership of the continent’s security and development priorities, while acknowledging the importance of strong and balanced international partnerships.
He said Africa must strengthen its capacity to finance and sustain its own priorities, particularly peace-building initiatives and long-term development programmes.
Achieving greater African ownership, he added, would require increased confidence in the continent’s resources and capabilities, together with stronger mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of its initiatives.
Akhannouch attended the Luanda session alongside Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa Mohamed Arrouchi, and Morocco’s Ambassador to Angola Saadia Alaoui.
