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

Co-chaired by Corinne Amori Brunet, Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Afro-descendant Integration, and Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, the session assessed progress and outlined a roadmap to further deepen and diversify bilateral collaboration. During his address, Nasser Bourita praised Benin’s democratic maturity and economic performance, positioning the country among emerging nations. He highlighted the strong bonds of friendship and mutual respect that define the relationship, emphasizing the need to align the partnership with national priorities and government vision to maximize impact. Bourita stressed the importance of engaging the private sector to boost economic exchanges, attract investments, and support development financing, aiming to set a model for inter-African partnerships rooted in solidarity, shared progress, and sustainability.

Addressing security concerns, he reaffirmed Morocco’s unwavering solidarity with Benin and underscored the urgency of promoting a tolerant interpretation of Islam. For his part, Hugues Oscar Lokossou, Benin’s Minister of Economy and Finance, stressed the need to elevate cooperation to strategic partnerships in key areas amid economic shifts. Noting that trade exchanges fall short of expectations, he identified sectors where Moroccan and Beninese expertise could intersect and collaborate. He called for building a shared prosperity space by pooling efforts and resources.

Corinne Amori Brunet echoed these priorities, emphasizing the need to strengthen 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 signed

At the close of the session, Benin and Morocco officially signed fourteen cooperation agreements covering a wide range of areas. These include a mutual administrative assistance accord in customs matters; a framework agreement on higher education, scientific research, and innovation; a judicial mutual assistance convention in criminal matters; an extradition treaty; a convention on the transfer of sentenced persons; an action plan in the justice sector; a security cooperation agreement; a protocol on financial arrangements for civil protection cooperation; a protocol on food safety cooperation; a framework convention on vocational training; an agreement on academic scholarships, internships, and expertise sharing; a memorandum of understanding in sports and athletic training; a partnership convention for joint tourism promotion and development initiatives; and a memorandum of understanding on environmental and sustainable development.