This desire was expressed during the discussions between Mr. Mohamed Touimi Benjelloun, Vice-President of the House of Representatives, with the President of the House of Representatives of Rwanda, Mrs. Donatille Mukabalisa and Espérance Nyirasafari, Vice-President of the Senate of Rwanda, on the sidelines of the 12th Conference of Presidents of Assemblies and Sections of the African Region of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF), which held its work from May 25 to 28 in Kigali.
During his first meeting with Ms. Mukabalisa, Mr. Touimi Benjelloun reiterated the willingness of the House of Representatives to give new impetus to parliamentary cooperation between the two countries by supporting the mechanisms of dialogue and consultation between the two legislative institutions, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding and the creation of a Moroccan-Rwandan parliamentary friendship group, with the aim of establishing a solid partnership, through the exchange of experiences and the sharing of expertise and the intensification of coordination and consultation in various regional and international parliamentary forums on issues of common interest.
Mr. Touimi took this opportunity to commend the level of friendly and cooperative relations between Morocco and Rwanda, which had experienced a particular dynamic, following the visit of HM King Mohammed VI to Rwanda in October 2016, as well as the visit of Rwandan President, Mr. Paul Kagame, to Morocco in June of the same year, which opened promising horizons for the partnership between the two countries and raised the level of bilateral relations in all areas, especially since the leaders of the two countries share the same ambitious vision of the development of Africa and the strengthening of South-South cooperation.
He also welcomed the democratic transformation in Rwanda and highlighted the distinguished and effective role of this friendly country at the regional and continental levels in achieving African integration and its adherence to security, peace and stability in Africa.
He also highlighted the distinguished presence of Rwandan women in Parliament as well as the pioneering role they play in society and in decision-making positions.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives welcomed the position of the Republic of Rwanda in favor of the return of the Kingdom of Morocco to its natural and legal place within the African Union, stressing that the Kingdom’s ties with the African continent stem from its deep conviction in the future of Africa.
Morocco has never ceased to plead in international forums in favor of the noble and just causes of the African continent in the face of conflicts, terrorism, extremism and all kinds of threats, he recalled.
Regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, Mr. Touimi Benjelloun welcomed the position of the Republic of Rwanda concerning the territorial integrity of Morocco and the sovereignty of the Kingdom over all of its territories.
For her part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives highlighted the importance of the political will and the identity of views of the leaders of the two countries, HM King Mohammed VI and President Paul Kagame, concerning development in all its manifestations at the level of the two countries, and the establishment of a renewed and exemplary strategic partnership, south-south, which meets the aspirations of the two countries and the two friendly peoples.
Ms. Mukabalisa stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation between the two legislative institutions and its role in strengthening relations between the two countries, emphasizing the need for the formation of a Moroccan-Rwandan parliamentary friendship group.
In this context, she invited the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make a working visit to Rwanda to finalize the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two legislative institutions.
Furthermore, Mr. Touimi’s discussions with the Vice-President of the Rwandan Senate focused on ways to further consolidate relations between the two legislative institutions, through the strengthening of coordination and cooperation.
These meetings took place in the presence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Kigali, Mr. Youssef Imani.
It should be recalled that Mr. Touimi Ben Jelloun represented Morocco at the 12th Conference of Presidents of Assemblies and Sections of the African Region of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, which was attended by nearly 90 participants, including Presidents of Parliamentary Assemblies and members of parliaments.
This conference, which takes place in an international context marked by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, looked at several issues mainly linked to the political, social and health situations in the countries of the French-speaking African area, in addition to an update on the G5 Sahel Interparliamentary Committee (CIPG5 Sahel).
2024-09-13 18:56:27