The Republic of Togo opened a consulate general in Dakhla on Thursday, thus marking its firm support, and never denied Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and its territorial integrity.
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, the Togolese Republic has always been a credible voice on the Moroccan Sahara issue at the level of regional and international bodies.
“Togo has always been in support of Morocco on the Sahara issue and the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and its national unity,” said the minister during a joint press briefing with the Togolese Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Robert Dussey.
The opening of this consulate consolidates the constancy of this position and constitutes a strong act with regard to Morocco, the Moroccan people and its living forces, said Bourita, noting that this diplomatic representation reinforces the historical relations and the strong ties uniting the two Heads of State, King Mohammed VI and the President of the Togolese Republic, Faure Gnassingbé.
It also comes, he continued, to concretize their personal friendships and shared visions in relation to bilateral relations and the future of the African continent in terms of peace, development and stability, on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity of States.
According to the head of Moroccan diplomacy, beyond its much appreciated political and diplomatic symbolism, this consulate will constitute a diplomatic mechanism for promoting and monitoring cooperation actions between the two countries and will further strengthen bilateral relations.
While recalling that Togo is among the first commercial and economic partners of the Kingdom in West Africa, in addition to security cooperation, Bourita indicated that there are many opportunities to be seized in terms of decentralized cooperation between the region Dakhla-Oued Eddahab and the Togolese regions, as well as experiences to share in matters particularly in the fishing industry, tourism and urban planning.
Nasser Bourita also pointed out that all the sub-regions of the African continent have diplomatic representation in the southern provinces, i.e. one third of the countries.
For his part, the Togolese minister reiterated his country’s constant support for the Moroccanness of the Sahara, noting that “the opening of the Consulate General of Togo in Dakhla expresses support for the territorial integrity and national unity of Morocco. , and the will to consolidate the bilateral relations between the two countries”.
Note that on the sidelines of this inauguration, Nasser Bourita and Robert Dussey signed an agreement on the abolition of visas for the benefit of Moroccan and Togolese nationals, holders of ordinary passports.
With this new inauguration, the number of consulates opened in the southern provinces has increased to 27 (15 in Dakhla and 12 in Laâyoune).
.