Moroccan Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri emphasized Africa’s significance in the nation’s foreign policy during her participation in the third Russia-Africa Summit held in Moscow on October 28-29. This marks her inaugural official foreign visit since taking office following the September 2026 parliamentary elections and representing King Mohammed VI at the summit.
During the summit’s plenary session, El Mansouri voiced Morocco’s support for enhanced cooperation between Russia and African nations. She underscored the need to convert existing agreements into tangible projects that effectively address the continent’s requirements.
El Mansouri noted that King Mohammed VI has consistently prioritized Africa in Morocco’s diplomatic strategies. Several royal initiatives aim to bolster regional integration, enhance infrastructure, and promote economic development. Key initiatives include the Atlantic African States Initiative, aimed at facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic African Gas Pipeline project.
Commitment to Tangible Cooperation
El Mansouri stressed the necessity of international partnerships for Africa and suggested that collaboration can yield significant benefits when it aligns with mutual interests and produces concrete outcomes. She characterized the Russian-African relationship as progressing into a phase focused on implementation, building on foundations laid during previous summits in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023.
She called for future cooperation to reflect Africa’s core priorities, including food security, energy security, industrial growth, and technology transfer. El Mansouri reiterated Morocco’s commitment to this partnership and the nation’s readiness to share its experiences in fostering new cooperative ventures.
The summit also highlighted Africa’s growing global relevance due to its natural resources, youthful demographic, strategic location, and rich cultural diversity. El Mansouri remarked, “Africa is not the only one that needs the rest of the world; the rest of the world increasingly needs Africa.”
Trade between Russia and African nations surpassed $27.7 billion in 2025, according to El Mansouri, who indicated that the summit should capitalize on these achievements while responding more directly to African developmental needs.
Additionally, she noted the historical ties between Morocco and Russia, which have strengthened since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2002. The partnership was enhanced during King Mohammed VI’s visit to Moscow in 2016. In 2025, trade between the two nations reached $630 million, with Moroccan exports to Russia increasing by 18%.
El Mansouri also pointed to educational connections, revealing that over 7,000 Moroccan students were studying in Russia during the 2024-2025 academic year. Despite geopolitical complexities, she expressed satisfaction with the enduring trade exchange between the two countries.
Looking ahead, El Mansouri expressed the hope that the summit would open new pathways for cooperation and strengthen political dialogue with Russia. Recently, the foreign ministries of Morocco and Russia initiated a working committee, which convened for its first meeting in September 2026.
