Morocco’s Experience in Promoting Youth, Women’s Political Participation Highlighted at Addis Ababa Summit

Addis Ababa – Morocco’s pioneering experience in promoting the political participation of young people and women was highlighted at the 2nd African Political Parties Summit, held from November 5 to 7 in Addis Ababa.

Speaking during the proceedings of the Summit, which focused on the role of political parties in governance and development across the African continent, the Moroccan delegation highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in broadening political participation, in line with the enlightened Vision of HM King Mohammed VI, which places the involvement of young people and women in public life and decision-making processes at the heart of its priorities.

In this context, the delegation recalled the Royal High Guidelines aimed at promoting the participation of young people and women in political life, as well as the initiatives undertaken in Morocco to strengthen young people’s representation in regional and local elections.

It stressed that enhancing the political participation of young people and women is an essential lever for consolidating democratic practices, renewing political party action and building a better future for the African continent. It also underscored the need to place greater trust in them and provide them with genuine opportunities to assume responsibilities and access decision-making positions.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to present Morocco’s development experience, particularly the major structural projects undertaken nationwide and, notably, in the Kingdom’s Southern Provinces, under the new development model for these provinces, launched by HM King Mohammed VI in 2015.

The Moroccan delegation also highlighted Royal initiatives aimed at strengthening African cooperation, particularly the Royal Atlantic Initiative, as well as the South-South cooperation strategy, which places solidarity, partnership and integration among African countries at the heart of the drive towards co-development.

The participation also provided an opportunity to highlight the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative under the Kingdom’s sovereignty as the sole basis for definitively resolving the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the Moroccan delegation took part in several bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation and consultation among various African political stakeholders, fostering closer ties between political parties and consolidating political dialogue across the continent.

The Moroccan delegation to the Summit comprises representatives of national political parties, including parliamentarians, as well as elected officials from local authorities in the Kingdom’s Southern Provinces.

Organized by Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party, in collaboration with the Africa Governance Center, the Summit brings together political party leaders, government officials, academics and civil society representatives to discuss governance, development and political cooperation across the African continent.