Nigeria appears to be skeptical about Morocco’s bid to join the West African Sub-regional body ECOWAS and is reluctant in seeing it gain a membership, DW reports.
There are a number of groups reportedly lobbying Nigeria’s government in Abuja to try and stop the North African nation’s admission into ECOWAS.
Nigeria remains a major super power in ECOWAS due to its population and economic strength. There are fears in Nigeria that Morocco’s admission into the regional bloc would make it the second-strongest member, with more economic clout than Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mali combined.
Former Nigerian Foreign Minister Bolaji Akinyemi is quoted by DW as saying “Morocco’s accession to ECOWAS is clearly an attack on Nigeria and its strategic position in West Africa.”
He claimed that countries supporting Morocco’s candidacy want to see Nigeria’s influence in the region weakened urging his country to leave ECOWAS should that happen.
Christoph Kannengießer, the chief executive officer of the German-African Business Association however also told DW that Morocco’s admission into ECOWAS will come with some benefits.
“ECOWAS will not be weakened by an economically strong country such as Morocco, and as an ECOWAS member, Morocco would be better able to fulfill its desired role as a bridge between Africa and Europe,” Kannengießer said.
But Akinyemi “I don’t think ECOWAS would survive that,” and rather wants Morocco to develop bilateral relations with ECOWAS countries.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI earlier this year visited Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali to promote his cause to see his country join ECOWAS.
At its June summit in Monrovia, ECOWAS confirmed that Morocco’s membership was possible in principle.
Morocco had already rejoined the African Union after 33 years of absence and the king has signed various bilateral trade agreements with other African countries.
In 2016, Morocco was the largest African investor on the continent and Morocco admission into ECOWAS as a full member, would give it access to the 15-member free market.
Source: Africafeeds.com
