Rabat, Morocco – Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday to represent King Mohammed VI at the Africa-France Summit “Africa Forward.” He will also participate in the fourth summit of heads of state and government of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, both taking place on May 11 and 12.
Official reception and high-level delegation
Upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Mr. Akhannouch was received by a high-level Kenyan delegation headed by the Minister of Public Service and Human Capital Development, Geoffrey Ruko. Also present were the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Abraham Korir Singh Oye, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Nairobi, Abdelrazak Laassel.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level ministerial and economic delegation, including Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development; Amine Tahraoui, Minister of Health and Social Protection; and Karim Zaidan, Minister Delegate for Investment. The delegation also includes Chakib Alj, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), along with several prominent figures from the private sector. This reflects the strong investment dimension of Moroccan participation.
Summit agenda: Economy and climate
The “Africa Forward” summit aims to strengthen partnerships between the African continent and France by focusing on building balanced and tangible relationships. Discussions will center on stimulating mutual investment, supporting economic development and vocational training, and formulating joint responses to current global challenges.
On another front, the fourth summit of the Congo Basin Climate Commission is of paramount importance, as it precedes the Blue Fund donors’ conference scheduled for Brazzaville at the end of this month. Leaders are expected to endorse a strategy for mobilizing financial resources, as well as technical and political documents. These steps aim to protect the Congo Basin’s ecosystem, an issue to which Morocco gives particular attention within its continental leadership role on climate matters.
This Moroccan participation comes to reaffirm the firm royal commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation and defending Africa’s strategic interests in the areas of sustainable development, energy and climate security.
