In his speech, King Mohammed VI stressed the need for fighting against corruption in Africa. Read by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at the 31st African Union summit in Nouakchott, the speech tackled the issue and the obstacles it creates. On July the 1st in Nouakchott, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita delivered King Mohammed VI' speech at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), which opened Sunday in Mauritania. «One of the major hurdles is endemic corruption – a scourge that is eating away at our societies and that our Summit has rightly made its main theme», declared the Moroccan sovereign, tackling the moral and ethical issue. The King acknowledged the consequences of corruption stressing that «it puts a strain on the purchasing power of citizens, especially the poorest segments of society». «In the relentless fight against corruption, some African countries - and their number is quite significant - are outperforming others, including some among the most developed nations. These are models which incite us to take the same path», argued King Mohamed VI. The African Union's contribution The institutional reforms undertaken within the African Union have to contribute to the emergence of an anti-corruption culture, explained the sovereign, stressing that the Kingdom of Morocco has realized the devastating effects of corruption and has decided to spare no effort to overcome this scourge. Explaining his vision, the King stated that the «fight against this scourge requires the coordination of experiences and the pooling of expertise, building on a common vision shared by all stakeholders», referring to members of the pan-African organization. For the King, fighting against the phenomenon should be a priority for the African Union as it blocks economic and social advancement. «This major project requires sincere political commitment: it is possible to tackle corruption through sustained efforts on the part of government authorities and through the necessary civic engagement», argued the monarch. «By winning this battle, we will shape the Africa we want to bequeath to our children: a prosperous, solidarity-based Africa that is at peace with itself», concluded the sovereign. For the record, King Mohammed VI did not attend the African Union summit held currently in Nouakchott. However, a Moroccan delegation headed by Bourita attended the body's 31st meeting.
