During a conference under the theme “Right to development and stability”, Ms. N’Diaye noted that the Moroccan initiative is an “engine for regional integration necessary to meet the challenges of development and overcome the geopolitical tensions facing faces a region rich in natural and human resources, but hampered by political and economic disruptions.
”Certain regional strategies of the great powers do not contribute to establishing the foundations of a sustainable development process which consolidates human rights in all their forms,” she regretted, believing that the solution lies in building a unified regional bloc that serves the interests of countries in the region and the African continent as a whole.
In this sense, South-South cooperation is crucial, assured the president of the “Espace Afrique International” Organization, during this event initiated by the NGO Promotion of Economic and Social Development (PDES), on the sidelines of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
”The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project and the Atlantic initiative are two innovative Moroccan models which converge to provide a vital breath of fresh air for the economic fabric of the Sahel region,” said Ms. N’Diaye , emphasizing that development is an essential pillar of the expected political and social stability.
For his part, the president of the Center for Studies on Human Rights and Democracy, El Habib Belkouche, presented indicators reflecting the extent of disparities and imbalances in development in the regional and international context, considering that The development deficit is a direct factor in the sustainability of tensions, manifestations of instability and the propensity for violence and extremism in the region.
Beyond numerical indicators, it is necessary to develop a development approach integrating the dimension of human rights into the evaluation of policies and placing people at the center of the approach, he noted.
Mr. Belkouche stressed the need to continue common efforts in this part of Africa in favor of democratic governance, in order to ensure human development that gives hope to future generations.
For his part, the researcher and teacher at the ”Geneva Graduate Institute”, Souhail Belhaj Klaz, took stock of the results of international cooperation, which he considered insufficient to create a climate of stability and generate a dynamic of real development that enhances the immense natural and human resources of the Sahel region.
During this event moderated by Aicha Douihi, president of the International Observatory on Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in Geneva, Mr. Belhadj Klaz noted that the partnership agreements with the countries of the Sahel, in particularly with regard to youth empowerment policies, have not produced tangible results, because the structural reasons for the unrest and imbalances inherent in the economic and social fabric have not been attacked.
The concept note of the event drew attention to the fact that countries in the region face several challenges in realizing the right to development. These are challenges linked to climate change, the management of drinking water resources, the continuous flows of migrants and refugees, and security threats, in particular violent extremism.