Morocco has expressed its interest in joining the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation said on Friday that the country has informed the President of Liberia and the current President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that it “seeks to join this regional group as a full member.” according to a report by Morocco World News.
The North African country, has officially requested to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a full member.
Morocco’s decision comes from King Mohammed VI in the “the royal tour in Africa and particularly in the states of West Africa.The decision aligns with Morocco’s diplomacy goals in Africa, “which culminated in Morocco’s return to the African union”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation released a statement Morocco meets all the criteria for membership.
Morocco’s move is a culmination of the “strong political, humanitarian, historical, religious and economic ties” with the countries of West Africa.
“Morocco’s ties with members of the Economic Community of West African States has been strengthened in recent decades, through the 23 royal visits to 11 countries in the region,” further asserts the statement,
ECOWAS has fifteen member countries which include Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Guinea.
