Morocco Expands Maritime Boundaries with New Territorial Waters Legislation

The first is Bill No. 37.17 amending and supplementing the Dahir having the force of law No. 1.73.211 of 26 Moharrem 1393 (March 2, 1973) fixing the limit of territorial waters. The second is Bill No. 38.17 amending and supplementing Law No. 1.81 establishing an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles off the Moroccan coasts.

According to Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, the development and presentation of these bills in the current context is explained by several political, legal, economic and technical factors. According to him, these two laws reflect Morocco’s determination to define its maritime borders with Spain and Mauritania and to declare its sovereignty over the territorial waters of the Sahara.

"This is a strategic and sovereign choice first and foremost, based on Morocco’s legitimate rights and resting on relevant legal bases, in accordance with the diplomacy of clarity and ambition desired by King Mohammed VI," Nasser Bourita said. This ambition, the sovereign expressed during his speech on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Green March.