In its role as the current Association of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECCA) President, the Kingdom of Morocco held “the Parliamentary Conference on South-South Cooperation” under the High patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The Conference took place in Rabat on 15th and 16th February 2024 under the theme: “South-South Cooperation: The Role of National Parliaments and Regional and Continental Parliamentary Unions in Africa, the Arab world, and Latin America in Enhancing Strategic Partnerships and Achieving Joint Integration and Development”.
It’s important to note that the Senate of the Kingdom of Eswatini (then known as Swaziland), was one of the founding members, along with the Kingdom of Morocco in a meeting of Senate/ Council Presidents held in Rabat, June 6-7, 2002.
The Parliamentary Conference brought together more than 260 participants from 40 countries, including 30 speakers of national parliaments and regional and continental parliamentary unions from Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and the Caribbean.
During the Conference, several Panels were held, centering on:
- Enhancing Political Dialogue and Regional Security to achieve peace and stability in Africa, the Arab World and Latin America
- Achieving Economic Transformation, Regional Integration, and Shared Development: The Significance of Policies Related to Enhancing Strategic Partnerships, Encouraging Investment, Technology, Infrastructure, and Enhancing Competitive Capacities
- The Sustainable Development, Energy, and Environment Triad.
The Honorable Senate President of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Pastor Mrs. Lindiwe Dlamini chaired the second panel. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Eswatini gave its intervention on two
Participants lauded the pioneering role played by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in launching and supporting all development and cohesion initiatives aimed at sustaining South-South cooperation.
The parliamentarians also called for “initiatives to serve as catalysts for strengthening South-South coordination, cooperation and solidarity” between the countries of Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and the Caribbean at bilateral, regional and inter-regional levels, particularly in areas linked to food, energy and health sovereignty and security, economic exchanges, sustainable development, coordination and consultation through permanent institutional channels.