Morocco Expands International Partnerships to Combat Terrorism and Extremism

According to the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the International Organizations in Vienna, Azzedine Farhane, the Kingdom has made a major contribution to international efforts to combat terrorism, as well as to the fight against incitement and recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters.

According to Ambassador Farhane, Morocco has made the strategic choice to strengthen South-South, North-South and tripartite cooperation, through the implementation of concrete projects with many countries in the key areas for achieving stability and sustainable human development. He also recalled that the multidimensional participation of the Kingdom at the regional level is not limited to providing military training for a number of African countries, but also includes strengthening regional and inter-regional cooperation through the sharing and exchange of information. Consequently, this cooperation-based approach has made it possible to dismantle many terrorist cells and thwart many terrorist attacks around the world, in addition to taking proactive measures against the continued development of cross-border threats.

The diplomat also emphasized the Hague-Marrakech Memorandum, developed by Morocco on good practices, for a more effective response to the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. It was proposed during its presidency of the Global Forum on Combating Terrorism, alongside the Netherlands, between 2014 and 2017. For the diplomat, the Kingdom will continue, during its joint presidency with Canada (2020-2022), to develop the forum as a platform bringing together 30 of the most committed partners in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The ambassador did not fail to specify the efforts of the Mohammed VI Institute for the training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates. On the recurring issue of the return of fighters or extremists, the diplomat indicated that this is a phenomenon that requires increased vigilance and closer cooperation at all levels.