Twenty-seven years after King Mohammed VI ascended the Throne on July 30, 1999, Morocco’s community in Côte d’Ivoire gathered to commemorate one of the Kingdom’s most significant national occasions.
Held in the gardens of the Moroccan residence, the ceremony welcomed diplomats, members of the Ivorian government, senior administrative officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, business leaders and members of the Moroccan community living in Côte d’Ivoire. Guests celebrated the occasion in a warm atmosphere marked by the playing of the national anthems of both countries and exchanges highlighting the close ties between the two peoples.
Addressing attendees, Morocco’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Othmane El Ferdaous, said Throne Day is far more than a national celebration. He described it as a symbol of the enduring bond between the King and the Moroccan people, as well as a reflection of the Kingdom’s progress under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.
He also praised the excellent relationship between Rabat and Abidjan, built on a shared vision of South-South cooperation, solidarity and shared development.
“It is with great honor and deep emotion that I address you today during this celebration, my first since arriving in Côte d’Ivoire. For all Moroccans, this occasion inspires pride, humility, modesty and, above all, a constant commitment to doing better while pursuing a human-centered approach to development,” El Ferdaous said.
The ambassador went on to highlight a reign defined by progress, stability and Morocco’s growing international influence, pointing to advances in infrastructure, energy, education and diplomacy.
“Since His Majesty’s accession to the Throne, King Mohammed VI has made Morocco’s return to its African institutional family, the African Union, a driving force for strengthening South-South cooperation, promoting an Africa of solutions and building active solidarity among African peoples,” he added.
Over the years, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire have steadily deepened cooperation across sectors including banking, agriculture, education, infrastructure, telecommunications and healthcare. Those growing ties have also been reflected in the expanding presence of Moroccan companies in Côte d’Ivoire and increasingly dynamic exchanges between the two nations.
“Our presence at this ceremony is, above all, a tangible expression of the Ivorian people’s solidarity with the Moroccan people,” said Évariste Koffi Yapi, Secretary General of Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad.
For members of the Moroccan community living in Côte d’Ivoire, the celebration also carried personal significance, offering an opportunity to reaffirm their attachment to their homeland while sharing the occasion with their Ivorian hosts.
“It is a great joy to celebrate this occasion here, far from home, while feeling the same patriotic spirit. We are pleased to see relations between our two countries continue to grow stronger,” one Moroccan attendee said.
The strong turnout by senior Ivorian officials was widely seen as another illustration of the close relationship between Rabat and Abidjan.
Beyond celebrating Throne Day, the event also reflected one of the defining features of King Mohammed VI’s 27-year reign: a vision centered on sovereignty as the guiding principle behind Morocco’s economic, industrial, energy, food, water and healthcare strategies, strengthening the Kingdom’s resilience and its capacity to shape its own future.
The reception ultimately stood as a symbol of Ivorian-Moroccan friendship, reaffirming that Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco remain close partners united by a shared commitment to prosperity, stability and African solidarity.
