The seventh session of the Bénin-Morocco Joint Cooperation Commission concluded in Cotonou on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The meeting culminated in the signing of fourteen strategic cooperation agreements, underscoring the robust and evolving partnership between the two nations.

Co-chaired by Corinne Amori Brunet, Bénin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the Integration of Afro-descendants, and Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Overseas Moroccans, the session reviewed progress and outlined priorities to further enhance and diversify bilateral cooperation. During his address, Nasser Bourita praised Bénin’s democratic maturity and economic performance, positioning the country as a rising star among emerging nations. He highlighted the deep-rooted friendship and mutual respect that define relations between Bénin and Morocco, emphasizing the need for partnerships to align with national visions and priorities to maximize impact. A key focus was the call to expand private sector involvement to boost economic exchanges, attract investments, and support development financing. The goal is to establish a model of inter-African partnership rooted in solidarity, shared growth, and sustainability. Addressing security challenges, Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s unwavering solidarity with Bénin and stressed the urgency of promoting a tolerant Islam.

Hugues Oscar Lokossou, Bénin’s Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of External Resource Mobilization and Debt Management, underscored the need to elevate cooperation beyond current levels to build strategic partnerships across key sectors. While acknowledging that trade exchanges have yet to reach their full potential, he identified several areas where Bénin and Morocco can combine their expertise. He called for a shared prosperity agenda, urging both nations to pool resources and efforts for mutual benefit.

Corinne Amori Brunet echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of strengthening collaboration in critical domains such as the economy, trade, industry, investment, tourism, agriculture, justice, security, vocational training, higher education, scientific research, health, digital innovation, and culture.

fourteen cooperation agreements inked

At the close of the session, Bénin and Morocco formally signed fourteen cooperation agreements, covering a wide array of sectors:

• Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement in Customs Matters
• Framework Cooperation Agreement in Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation
• Judicial Mutual Assistance Convention in Criminal Matters
• Extradition Convention
• Transfer of Sentenced Persons Convention
• Action Plan in the Justice Sector
• Security Cooperation Agreement
• Financial Modalities Protocol for Civil Protection Cooperation
• Protocol on Cooperation in Food Safety
• Framework Convention on Vocational Training
• Framework Cooperation Agreement on Academic Scholarships, Internships, and Expertise Sharing
• Memorandum of Understanding in Sports and Sports Training
• Partnership Convention for Joint Tourism Promotion and Development Actions
• Memorandum of Understanding in Environment and Sustainable Development