ECOWAS: Morocco’s controversial marriage proposal to West Africa

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Morocco has launched a charm offensive to the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Kingdom also wants to join the community of States ECOWAS. But that’s not for everybody.

Morocco’s king Mohammed VI (left) with the Ivorian President Ouattara

Morocco’s king Mohammed VI, makes the accession of his country to the West African economic community (ECOWAS). At the beginning of the year, he visited Ghana, the ivory coast, Guinea and Mali, to promote his cause. In June, the ECOWAS declared at their summit in Monrovia that accession was, in principle, possible. Already in January, Morocco was entered after 33 years in the African Union. In the past few months, the Monarch, dozens of bilateral trade agreements with African countries.

In the past few years, 85 percent of foreign direct investment went to Morocco, to Africa. With eight billion dollars of announced investments in the country in 2016, was the largest African Investor on the continent. Alone, 2.7 billion, the Kingdom has invested in the ivory coast. But trade with Africa is expanding only 1.4 percent of Morocco’s imports and 7 percent of exports were handled in 2015, with sub-Saharan Africa. Full membership of Morocco in the ECOWAS, would mean access to the free market, with its 15 members.

“Win-Win-Situation”

Economically, nothing is a membership of Morocco in the way the country is in a better state than most of the ECOWAS members. And also the geographical location in North Africa, according to the Constitution of the economic community not a criterion for exclusion. Africa-expert Christoph can caster sees a Win-win Situation: “The ECOWAS will not be weakened by an economically strong country such as Morocco and Morocco can play as an ECOWAS member, its intended role as a bridge between Africa and Europe is intense.”

The member countries of the ECOWAS in West Africa

Before Morocco could, however, join in formally, would have to be the political, economic and social impacts, the ECOWAS. Because the States Alliance aims in addition to the economic but also political Integration of its members. However, there are disagreements: The ECOWAS recognizes the Western Sahara as an independent state, Morocco, by contrast, the annexed part of the rightful province of the Kingdom. From the summit, on the accession of Morocco advise was to meet, was away from the king because Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also invited. Morocco the lead in diplomatic relations with Israel, it was called by the Moroccan government.

The desire for new allies

Morocco belongs to the Arab Maghreb Union (UAM). However, due to economic and political disagreements – especially between Morocco and Algeria – the North African States is practically at a standstill. Since 2008, there were no major meetings of the members. In the case of Morocco’s main trading partner, the European Union, is weakening the economy. New allies and new markets for Moroccan products. The ECOWAS-States, with 350 million inhabitants, are a welcome Partner.

“The Moroccans to a policy, a dual strategy,” says molder in the DW-interview. On the one hand, the North African country in search of a privileged relation to Europe, on the other hand, it is reinforcing its Integration on the African continent, the Director General of the Africa Association of the German economy. “The Moroccans know that the African continent, particularly West Africa, and growth regions. You promise, especially economic benefits, but also a growing political influence on the continent.” It should be discussed whether economic Integration will lead inevitably to political Integration.

Since January of 2017 Morocco is again a member of the African Union

“A frontal assault on Nigeria”

In Nigeria, the most powerful economic member state of the ECOWAS, stimulates resistance against the accession of Morocco. The various stakeholders of the Nigerian government to stop the recording. Currently, more than two-thirds of the economy makes Nigeria force of the ECOWAS. Morocco would be economically the second most powerful member – with a higher economic performance as Ghana, ivory coast, Senegal and Mali.

“Accession of Morocco in the ECOWAS is clearly a frontal assault on Nigeria and its strategic Position in West Africa,” says the former Nigerian foreign Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi. The supporters of the request for inclusion, from Morocco to weaken Nigeria’s influence in the Region. In the case of an accession of Nigeria to withdraw from the ECOWAS. “I don’t think that the ECOWAS would survive.” In order not to jeopardize the economic cooperation, recommends Akinyemi bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Morocco.

“I think that in the end also in Nigeria, the economic pragmatism playing a major role,” says molder. “That’s why I find such positions currently relevant, but also changeable.” He sees several possible outcomes for the application project in Morocco: a full membership, a privileged integration status or observer status as interim solution. “Maybe, but the Whole fails to the Veto of Nigeria.”