Participants at the first Blue Africa Summit, held on 16 and 17 November 2023 in Tangiers, hailed King Mohammed VI’s strong commitment to the oceans.
In the Tangiers Declaration published at the end of this summit, held under the High Patronage of the Moroccan King for the first time on the African continent, they called on the States of the African Atlantic seaboard to join the Moroccan initiative for a coalition of united countries.
They also called on all national and local authorities on the African continent to draw up plans or strategies for the sustainable development of their coasts and exclusive economic zones, to support the creation of maritime space plans at national and international level to develop a sustainable blue economy and to promote, among other things, the protection of these spaces and their precious biodiversity to the tune of 30% by 2030.
The participants in this summit, initiated by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and Saison Bleue, urged maritime entrepreneurs to develop sustainable economic models that take into account the well-being of coastal populations, while inviting States to encourage initiatives such as the Great Blue Wall or maritime corridors combining scientific expertise, civic commitment and development to protect the Ocean. a common resource.
Recalling that Africa, with a population that will reach 2 billion by 2050, nearly two-thirds of whom will live within 60 km of a coastline, is a continent that deserves special treatment, participants indicated that African growth depends and will depend to a large extent on investments in the blue economy or finance, as long as they benefit local economies and populations.
The Blue Africa Summit brought together representatives of 26 countries out of the 38 coastal states of the African continent, as well as their neighbours from the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian basins, political leaders, representatives of the scientific community, civil society, African youth and economic actors.
The event was also attended by senior representatives of the United Nations, the European Union and other organizations representing maritime nations.