Eswatini, Morocco Cement Ties Through Landmark Cooperation Agreement
By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Kingdom of Eswatini and the Kingdom of Morocco have officially launched their first-ever Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC), which is a new chapter in diplomatic and economic collaboration between the two nations.
The historic session, held in Rabat recently, was co-chaired by Eswatini’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pholile Shakantu, and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.
The inaugural session builds on nearly three decades of diplomatic engagement since Eswatini and Morocco established formal relations in 1996.
The relationship took a major leap forward when Eswatini opened its mission in Rabat in 2020 which was hailed as a move that symbolised a deepening commitment to collaboration.
Over the past two years, preparatory expert meetings held in Eswatini paved the way for the Joint Commission, culminating in this major gathering which saw the signing of a joint communiqué outlining a comprehensive cooperation roadmap for 2026–2028.
The roadmap sets an ambitious agenda for bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors including education, technical cooperation, economic promotion, diplomatic exchange, and international funding.
It highlights a mutual vision to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible benefits for citizens, promoting sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Among the most notable agreements signed was the visa waiver for service and diplomatic passport holders, a measure expected to simplify official exchanges between the two governments and reinforce commitments to regional integration and free movement.
Another key highlight was the agreement on diplomatic training, which will allow young Eswatini diplomats to undertake short-term training in Morocco.
The training will include exposure to international diplomacy and practical courses in French and Arabic, languages critical to global diplomacy.
Minister Pholile Shakantu expressed appreciation for Morocco’s continued support in developing Eswatini’s diplomatic capacity, noting that “the strengthening of our human capital is vital to Eswatini’s global engagement and the advancement of our national interests on the world stage.”
In the field of justice, the two countries agreed to cooperate in strengthening their Ministries of Justice, establishing frameworks that promote judicial dialogue and enhance access to justice.
Again, youth development emerged as another major focus area of the session. Recognising the transformative role of sports and cultural exchange, Minister Shakantu extended an invitation for young emaSwati footballers to receive professional training in Morocco, a country globally recognised for its football excellence.
She congratulated Morocco for its recent success at the Under-20 World Cup and wished the North African nation well ahead of the upcoming AFCON tournament.
Furthermore, tourism cooperation also featured prominently in the talks, with both nations committing to enhance capacity-building for tourism managers, trainers, and operators.
Morocco’s experience as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations presents a valuable opportunity for Eswatini to learn best practices in hospitality management, marketing, and sustainable tourism.
Both Ministers expressed optimism that such collaboration would unlock economic potential and contribute to diversifying Eswatini’s economy.
Under the broader cooperation framework, Morocco emphasized its support for Eswatini’s development agenda by pledging to sponsor emaSwati professionals for study and learning tours in Morocco.
The visits will target strategic areas such as infrastructure, resource mobilisation, and project management. The Moroccan government also committed to supporting Eswatini’s efforts in mobilising international funding for key national projects..
As a symbol of this deepened partnership, Morocco announced that it will host an “Eswatini Economic Week” in Rabat in 2026. The event will provide a platform to showcase Eswatini’s investment potential, attract investors, and strengthen trade linkages between the two economies.
