On 17 December, the Director General of CAFRAD delivered a strategic address focusing on the emerging geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geostrategic challenges related to oceans and seas, as well as on prospects for territorialized maritime governance within the framework of the Moroccan Atlantic Initiative and the Global South.

In addition to his official address before leading scientific figures of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI presented a paper entitled “The Right of Hot Pursuit on the High Seas: Atlantic Countries Tested by Oceanic Geostrategy.” This was a peer-reviewed scientific paper evaluated and accepted by the colloquium’s scientific committee.

The 22nd International Colloquium on the geopolitics and governance of oceans was held in a global context marked by the growing “maritimization” and “militarization” of the economy, with the sea now established as a central pillar of the global economy, international trade, and power relations. The discussions highlighted the close interconnection between maritime geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy, underscoring that control over maritime spaces has become a major issue in contemporary international relations.

In line with the Royal Vision, particular emphasis was placed on the strategic role of Morocco’s Atlantic seaboard, which is destined to become an area of human convergence, economic integration, and continental influence. In the face of the structural challenges confronting Atlantic Africa—particularly in terms of infrastructure and investment—the Moroccan Atlantic Initiative positions itself as a structuring lever to support inclusive coastal development dynamics, based on proximity partnerships that are mutually beneficial and adapted to an international environment undergoing profound transformation.

CAFRAD is fully aligned with this new dynamic, positioning itself as a research center and strategic think tank dedicated to the maritime issues of Atlantic Africa. A concrete illustration of this commitment was the organization of the CAFRAD colloquium entitled “Morocco, a Laboratory for South–South Cooperation,” held on 5 December 2025. This event provided a privileged forum for dialogue and analysis, contributing to the strengthening and deepening of strategic reflections on the new challenges and prospects for cooperation within Atlantic Africa.