At the initiative of the Kingdom of Morocco and in partnership with Niger, Niamey hosted the opening ceremony of a diplomatic training workshop on Monday, October 14, focusing on protocol practices and official communication.
Over the next two weeks, nearly 200 Nigerien officials and diplomats will take part in training sessions led by two former Moroccan ambassadors and an international expert from the Moroccan Institute for Training, Research, and Diplomatic Studies (IMFRED).
This programme, driven by King Mohammed VI’s African vision, embodies Morocco’s commitment to a dynamic South–South cooperation rooted in solidarity, knowledge-sharing, and human capital development.
The capacity-building workshop — the second of its kind — targets staff from the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Consultative Council for Refoundation (CCR), and various ministries.
It aims to equip participants with practical skills to enhance their efficiency and support the professionalisation of Niger’s diplomatic administration.
Focusing on protocol procedures, diplomatic writing, and negotiation techniques, the training is part of ongoing cooperation between Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the National Agency for Conference Economy (ANEC).
It follows the memorandum of understanding signed between both ministries on 26 December 2017 in Rabat.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jaafar Debbarh, Chargé d’affaires at the Moroccan Embassy in Niger, highlighted the political and symbolic importance of the initiative.
He described it as a practical expression of the Moroccan monarch’s vision of an African diplomacy based on trust, shared expertise, and collective advancement.
“This workshop reflects a cooperation built on confidence, the exchange of experience, and the sharing of knowledge in the service of an effective and united African diplomacy,” Debbarh said.
He also emphasised that the initiative demonstrates the vitality of Morocco–Niger relations and their shared commitment to strengthening human capital.
Each year, numerous Nigerien professionals receive training in Morocco across administrative, institutional, and technical fields.
Niger’s Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Issakou Souleymane, expressed deep appreciation for Morocco’s ongoing support and technical assistance through IMFRED.
He praised the “exemplary cooperation founded on historical brotherhood and active solidarity,” and urged young diplomats to make the most of this training opportunity to build a modern and sovereign diplomacy serving Africa’s development.
Souleymane also recalled that Morocco annually provides 150 university scholarships, 50 vocational training grants, and several specialised programmes in sectors such as health, agriculture, defence, security, and finance.
Colonel AbdoulKarim Illo, Director-General of ANEC, voiced satisfaction with the workshop’s organisation, noting that Morocco’s recognised expertise in protocol serves as a model for Niger.
“The presence of Moroccan trainers is a living testament to the strength of our fraternal ties and the quality of the partnership between our two nations,” he said.
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