Morocco, a leading investor in Africa
Morocco expands its network of African partners
AfCFTA serving intra-African trade
A trade bridge between Europe and Africa
South-South cooperation has become one of Morocco’s strategic priorities, as the country is committed to strengthening African partnerships based on solidarity, sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Africa: a strategic priority
Partnerships with African nations enable Morocco to diversify its markets and reduce its trade dependence on Europe, through greater engagement with West and Central Africa.
As the leading African investor in West Africa and thanks to its African initiatives, Morocco aims to become a logistics hub linking Europe, Africa and the Atlantic, as well as a leading logistics platform on the African continent.
This economic cooperation is founded on the principle of achieving joint development based on productive investment, economic stability and the consolidation of trust among African partners, with the aim of creating added value at the local level, improving competitiveness and economic integration, and supporting social stability within the continent.
Morocco aims to lead economic cooperation in Africa, for the benefit of the continent’s countries. Pictured: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at a Ministerial Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council – PHOTO/X/MAROC DIPLOMATIE
Thanks to this bilateral economic and trade cooperation, trade between Morocco and African countries amounted to some 53.6 billion dirhams in November 2025, compared to 37.54 billion dirhams in 2014, representing an increase of almost 50% in a single decade.
Similarly, Morocco’s trade balance with Africa has seen significant growth, shifting from a deficit of 3 billion dirhams in 2014 to a surplus of 7.2 billion dirhams in 2024.
Morocco, a leading investor in Africa
Morocco ranks fifth in Africa in terms of investment across various African economic sectors, particularly in banking and finance, with several Moroccan banks operating in over 20 African countries. The renewable energy, telecommunications and port sectors should also be noted as key areas for Moroccan investment in sub-Saharan countries.
In this regard, it should be noted that Morocco does not merely invest, but also transfers its expertise to Africa, becoming a technical and financial partner for these African countries with which it aims to strengthen economic relations and advance the continent’s development. Proof of this is the Atlantic initiative based on the consolidation of trade relations with Western and Sahelian countries.
King Mohammed VI’s initiative to facilitate access to the Atlantic Ocean for the countries of the Sahel forms part of this framework of intra-African cooperation. Pictured: the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on a courtesy visit to Rabat, where they were received by the Moroccan monarch – EFE/MAP
According to figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Moroccan direct investment in sub-Saharan African countries amounted to 4.55 billion dirhams in 2024, equivalent to 95% of total Moroccan direct investment in Africa. This figure reflects the continent’s prominent position in Morocco’s investment priorities.
In fact, total Moroccan investment in Africa accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s total foreign investment and is directed primarily towards Sub-Saharan African countries.
Morocco expands its network of African partners
As part of this South-South cooperation strategy, Morocco continues to diversify and expand its network of African partners, focusing on strategic partnerships with its long-standing allies such as Senegal, Morocco’s main economic partner in West Africa, where Moroccan companies have a strong presence thanks to the free trade agreements linking the two countries.
In this context, Rabat is making significant efforts to foster fruitful cooperation with various African countries such as South Africa, which is Morocco’s second-largest trading partner in Southern Africa.
Morocco’s African policy is based on economic partnerships and multidimensional cooperation with many countries across the African continent, in line with the following priorities:
Mauritania: a strategic partner and hub for the African Atlantic Corridor and the Atlantic Africa maritime highway projects. This country also maintains significant land and sea trade with Morocco and Europe.
Nigeria: a key partner in energy and regional trade. It also cooperates with Morocco on strategic projects such as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline.
Ivory Coast: one of the country’s main African trading partners, collaborating on the development of the aforementioned gas pipeline.
Gabon: maintains technical and health cooperation and significant educational exchange, benefiting Gabonese students at Moroccan universities.
Egypt: is Morocco’s main supplier on the continent, with extensive bilateral trade in manufactured goods.
Angola: a strengthened partnership to boost trade and establish integrated logistics corridors.
Liberia: with this country, the objectives are to encourage investment and stimulate economic flows.
Comoros: similarly, Morocco’s aim is to explore new avenues of cooperation and direct trade partnerships between Rabat and Moron.
Mozambique, Togo and Cape Verde: the three countries are linked to Morocco through three new strategic cooperation agreements.
Ghana: a partnership focused on knowledge transfer and bilateral cooperation in the transport sector.
Ethiopia and Rwanda: focused on the agricultural sector, particularly through the supply of fertilisers.
Kenya and Tanzania: partners in logistics and trade expansion in the East African region.
Key sectors of cooperation
Bilateral economic and trade cooperation constitutes one of the main pillars of Morocco’s strategy in Africa, placing the focus on the Moroccan private sector as an essential link in strengthening the chain of economic relations with Africa.
Moroccan banks have expanded into many countries across the African continent. Pictured: the headquarters of Attijariwafa Bank in Casablanca (Morocco) – PHOTO/ATTIJARIWAFA BANK
Morocco is, therefore, one of the continent’s major investors and has become a key driver of economic integration among southern African countries in key sectors such as:
Banking and finance, with the expansion of Moroccan banks (Attijariwafa Bank and BMCE Bank of Africa in West and Central Africa).
Logistics and transport via Atlantic corridors and strategic ports.
Agriculture and agribusiness, through significant investments by the OCP Group.
Renewable energy and electricity projects.
Automotive, with the export of vehicles and their components.
Telecommunications, with a strong presence of Maroc Telecom in Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mauritania.
African food security, supported by Morocco.
Vital infrastructure such as the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline, which crosses 13 West African countries to drive economic development.
Air connectivity through bilateral agreements.
AfCFTA serving intra-African trade
Since its return to the African Union in 2017, Morocco has intensified its economic integration with the continent, committing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a continental strategy aimed at increasing intra-African trade and reducing customs barriers.
Following the formalisation of its integration into the AfCFTA’s preferential mechanisms in 2025, Morocco has not only begun to benefit from tariff advantages and customs facilities under the continental agreement, but is now considered one of the key players in African integration.
Proof of this is the organisation of the international forum “ZLECAf Trade Finance Summit” in Casablanca, which was attended by more than 300 African exporting companies. In this way, Morocco plays a leading role in this continental strategy, aspiring to become a regional economic power.
A trade bridge between Europe and Africa
According to statements by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, the AfCFTA represents the challenge of the current generation and the firm commitment of a country that has chosen innovation and South-South cooperation to overcome the obstacles hindering its implementation, such as:
Geopolitical and security tensions.
Inadequate transport and logistics infrastructure.
Economic disparities between African countries.
Administrative and customs barriers.
Currency differences.
Institutional weaknesses and fragmentation.
Poor connectivity between some African countries.
The heterogeneity of African economies.
Low levels of industrialisation and competitiveness.
The future Port of Dajla on the Atlantic coast will be a key facility for channelling freight traffic to African countries – PHOTO/ATALAYAR
Despite these challenges and obstacles, Morocco supports the African Continental Free Trade Area (ALECTA) through the Atlantic initiative of the Port of Dakhla Atlantic, which will play a key role in streamlining the flow of goods in Africa.
The zone covers a continental market of over 1.3 billion inhabitants, with abundant natural resources, and represents one of the key instruments of the ambitious Agenda 2063 roadmap to strengthen economic, political and social cooperation among African states, develop African value chains and attract foreign investment.