Recall that both nations met at the final of the latest edition of AFCON, where Senegal edged the host nation (Morocco) by 1-0 after an extra-time winner by Villareal’s Pape Gueye. The encounter was marked by significant tension and controversy, culminating in a memorable outcome.
Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, deals were concluded on Monday, January 27, in Rabat during the 15th session of the Morocco–Senegal High Joint Commission for Cooperation, co-chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Senegalese counterpart, Ousmane Sonko.
According to official statements released after the meeting, the agreements and legal instruments span key economic, social, and technical sectors, including higher education, agriculture, industry, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, maritime fisheries, port infrastructure, animal health, and vocational training.
Both governments said the agreements are intended to move cooperation beyond symbolic diplomacy and into a more operational phase, anchored by sector-specific partnerships and institutional monitoring mechanisms. Officials described the outcome as a step towards elevating relations to a “new strategic level”.
Addressing the commission, Akhannouch highlighted what he described as the “deep historical, human and spiritual ties” between the two countries.
He reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Senegal in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The Moroccan prime minister also used the forum to reiterate Rabat’s position on its national priorities, including its autonomy initiative and its broader development strategy towards the Sahel and Africa’s Atlantic corridor.
He pointed to the convergence of views between the two countries on regional stability, economic cooperation, and security.
Sonko, for his part, called for a gradual rebalancing of bilateral trade in Senegal’s favour and urged greater consideration for the Senegalese community residing in Morocco.
Referencing tensions that followed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, he sought to downplay their political significance, describing the incidents as “emotional excesses linked to sporting fervour”.
“These should not be read as political or cultural rifts,” Sonko said, in remarks aimed at calming public sentiment in both countries.
On the sidelines of the commission, the Senegalese prime minister toured the OCP industrial complex in Benguérir, underscoring the economic dimension of the visit.
For Rabat and Dakar, officials say the latest agreements are designed to turn a long-standing relationship into a practical lever for sustainable growth and deeper regional integration.
