The King Mohammed VI leadership for a developing Africa: A model for South-South cooperation.

The King Mohammed VI leadership for a developing Africa: A model for South-South cooperation.

To celebrate the glorious Youth Day, a virtual symposium was held under the title “Youth and the Challenges of Development Transformation under Royal Leadership: A Strategic Reading of the Moroccan-African Trajectory in the Era of King Mohammed VI”. This symposium was held remotely on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 3:00 PM, Rabat time, and saw a wide participation of experts and specialists from various African and Arab countries.

A group of institutions and organizations participated in organizing this important event, most notably the Council of Interdisciplinary Researchers, the International Center for Energy, Law and Environmental Sustainability, and the Rahamna Association for Environment and Sustainable Development from Morocco, in addition to institutions from Congo, Bahrain, and South Africa. The symposium was moderated by Dr. Farouk Abdel Aziz from Cameroon, while Professor Abdo Al-Qasim Ali Abdo undertook the task of simultaneous translation, which allowed for the exchange of ideas among participants in different languages.

The symposium included valuable interventions from a group of speakers, the summaries of which were as follows:

• Dr. Abdel Salam Harfane: A professor at Mohammed V University, he addressed the “Royal Atlantic Initiative”, describing it as an integrated vision aimed at strengthening the economic sovereignty of the Atlantic African countries and achieving sustainable development through the blue economy and maritime infrastructure.
• Dr. Mohammed Al-Hajira: Head of the Public Finance Control and Governance Committee in the House of Representatives, he presented an intervention titled “King Mohammed VI and Africa: A Story of Love, Hope, and Progress”, in which he highlighted the diplomatic and economic dimensions of the Moroccan vision, with a focus on the “win-win” principle. He also shed light on the Moroccan-Nigerian gas pipeline project as a strategic energy artery.
• Cédric Musongo Mukaba: A provincial deputy from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he addressed “Youth Leadership and Citizen Diplomacy” and called for the empowerment of youth to be leaders of change on the continent.
• Dr. Ralsian Lanyed: A consultant in strategic management, he emphasized the importance of “Strategic Youth Leadership in the Energy and Infrastructure Sectors”, pointing out that investing in these sectors is key to economic growth in Africa.

In conclusion, the participants unanimously agreed that the involvement and empowerment of youth is a fundamental pillar for achieving the comprehensive development that the African continent seeks, and they stressed the importance of combining regional and international efforts to support this path.