Morocco voices wish to see Maghreban union revived

Morocco on Monday voiced wish to see the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) revived.

"Morocco pins great expectations on efforts being made to revive the Arab Maghreb Union, as a stride on the path to African unity," Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, said Monday in a speech at the opening session of the third summit of the Sahel and Saharan States Community (COMESSA).

The UMA was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. Its mechanisms have been however paralyzed for years due to strained relations between member countries, and especially between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue.

Youssoufi also stressed Morocco's will to prospect best means to establish an integrated and efficient cooperation between UMA and COMESSA.

He also lauded the consolidation of other African regional groupings with whom Morocco wishes to have cooperation ties, such as the Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa.

The creation of integrated and complementary African spaces, respectful of social and cultural specificities is a challenge for African peoples to face up the rampant globalization, he said.

Morocco was unanimously admitted as full-fledged member of COMESSA along with Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia and Somalia.

COMESSA saw the light of day in 1997 upon an initiative by Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Kaddafi.

Under its charter, COMESSA seeks the establishment of a global economic union, the promotion of exchanges and investments, the development of infrastructures, the harmonization of educational, scientific and pedagogical systems and the suppression of all restrictions hampering the free movement of people and goods among member states.

Besides the new members (Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Somalia), the grouping musters the Central African Republic, Senegal, Zambia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Libya.