COTONOU
The Atlantic African countries adopted the Cotonou Declaration on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, green logistics corridors, economic integration and sustainable energy during the seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Process of Atlantic African States (PAAS).
The high-level meeting, co-hosted by Benin and Morocco, brought together foreign ministers, heads of delegation and experts from member states to discuss ways of advancing cooperation across the Atlantic African region under the theme, “Consolidating an Integrated Atlantic African Space: Maritime Security, Green Logistics Corridors and Sustainable Energy Transition.”
Opening the meeting, Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Corinne Amori Brunet, said the region’s security, economic, climate and energy challenges require a coordinated response.
She reaffirmed Benin’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation based on solidarity, dialogue and strategic partnerships to transform the Atlantic African space into a driver of peace, shared prosperity and sustainable development.
Representing Morocco, Mohamed Methqal, director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, welcomed the progress made since the launch of the process in Rabat in 2022.
He reiterated Morocco’s commitment to supporting member states in implementing priority projects in maritime security, green logistics corridors, economic integration and energy transition while calling for practical cooperation guided by a shared vision.
Foreign ministers from Cabo Verde, The Gambia and Togo attended the meeting, alongside Ghana’s deputy foreign minister.
Delegations from Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritania, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Senegal also participated.
At the close of the meeting, participants adopted the Cotonou Declaration, reaffirming their shared ambition to build an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Atlantic African space.
The declaration emphasizes deeper collaboration in maritime security, economic integration, the development of green logistics corridors and the transition to sustainable energy for the benefit of communities across the region.
Hosting the ministerial meeting reinforces Benin’s growing role as a regional platform for diplomatic dialogue and international cooperation.
The gathering marks another step in efforts to strengthen coordinated governance of the Atlantic African space through the Process of Atlantic African States, which was launched in 2022 to foster cooperation among African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
