Joint Declaration issued at the end of Official Visit of Morocco King to Guinea Bissau

Bissau – HM King Mohammed VI has made from 28 to 30 May an official visit to Guinea Bissau at the invitation of Guinea-Bissau President José Mario Vaz, who was sanctioned by a joint statement which is the following:

1- At the invitation of HE José Mario Vaz, President of Guinea Bissau, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, made an official visit to Guinea Bissau from 28 to 30 May 2015.
2- With this historic visit, the two countries reconnect with their combat history for freedom and dignity. This visit is also an opportunity to honor the illustrious leaders of the Africa combatant and recalling the contribution of Morocco to the liberation of Guinea Bissau and Africa from the colonial yoke.
3- This visit symbolizes, also, attachment of His Majesty the King to the same pan-African values ​​of solidarity and fraternity and reflects the commitment of Morocco to contribute to the consolidation of the process of rebuilding peace and stability in Guinea Bissau.
4. On this occasion, the President of Guinea Bissau has expressed to His Majesty King his thanks and those of the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau for this mark of affection and solidarity and for the multifaceted support that Morocco provide Guinea Bissau in this decisive and crucial phase of its history.
5- The President congratulated His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his regional leadership for His vision for the emancipation and development of the African continent and for His advocacy of a South-South cooperation and multifaceted concrete for African populations.
6. The President of Guinea Bissau held also to reaffirm the constant and unconditional support of his country to the Moroccan Sahara and the territorial integrity of Morocco.
7- Guinea Bissau supports Morocco’s bid for observer status within the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP).
8- His Majesty the King congratulated President José Mario VAZ, government and all national authorities for the steps taken by Guinea Bissau in the political process of return to constitutional order and for the measures that the President has taken to allow Guinea-Bissau to launch the phase of reconstruction and the establishment of the rule of law.
9- This stability requires restarting the structures and institutions of the state, strengthening peace and security, urgent response to the pressing social needs of populations, the development of concrete programs for food security, electrification, health …
10- In this context, His Majesty the King stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco, which is a historical friend of Guinea Bissau, also wants her partner present and the future.
11- Morocco wants to develop with Guinea Bissau mutually beneficial South-South cooperation and creative common wealth, and through triangular cooperation can mobilize the international development funds and capitalized expertise in human development sustainability of the local population and to meet future challenges together.
12. His Majesty the King has, in this regard, assured President José Mario Vaz that Morocco is ready to make available to Guinea Bissau’s experience in security and economic and social development and help finally break the cycle of instability and to engage in the path to lasting peace.

13. During the visit, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Vaz chaired the opening ceremonies and lacing several human development projects in Guinea Bissau with the support of Morocco. The two heads of state visited the field hospital deployed in Bissau by the Royal Armed Forces to deliver care to the population. They also launched agricultural development projects and installation of drinking water production stations.

14- The launch of these human development projects reflects the priority given by His Majesty the King to improving social and economic conditions of African people.
15. The two leaders welcomed the strengthening of the legal framework governing relations between the two countries through the signing of cooperation agreements that will allow Guinea-Bissau to benefit from the experience and expertise of Morocco in several economic and social sectors.
16. His Majesty the King visited the Amura Fortress and laid a wreath at the Mausoleum Amilcar Cabral, founder of the Nation Guinea-Bissau and paid tribute to the heroes of the armed struggle for national liberation.
17- Addressing the causes of conflict in Africa, the two leaders said that safeguarding the stability depends on the economic recovery and growth, the fight against precariousness and exclusion as well the implementation of political and economic structural reforms to meet international requirements and taking into account African specificities.
18- They also recalled the importance of the fight against security threats against networks and transnational organized crime that swarm in Africa and called on the international community to support more decisively efforts building the rule of law .
19. Similarly, the experience of many African countries, shows that the international aid and support are important during the crisis, they are all the more during the phase following the crisis.
20- The two heads of state also said that building shared prosperity and solidarity spaces will help alleviate the gap between the levels of development of countries and to foster co-emergence and peace.
21. In this regard, the two Heads of State, aware of the common destiny and the similarity of the challenges to the entire North West African region, decided to promote the creation of a subregional Space strategic dialogue and cooperation bringing together the countries in this region.
22. His Majesty the King has invited HE the President of the Republic to make an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco “.