Some evenings transcend the traditional diplomatic reception. The celebration marking the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne, held Thursday at the residence of Morocco’s ambassador in Libreville, was one of them. The gardens of La Sablière, decorated in Morocco’s colors, welcomed guests with the aromas of spices and tagines, offering an atmosphere that blended Moroccan tradition with modernity.
Beyond the cuisine and the gathering of distinguished guests, the evening also conveyed a political message. Morocco’s ambassador to Gabon, Abdellah Sbihi, said Throne Day is more than an anniversary celebration. It represents “the renewal of the historic bond that has united the Alaouite Throne and the Moroccan people for more than 12 centuries.”
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In his address, the ambassador outlined the profound transformations Morocco has undergone under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
“Morocco is establishing itself as an emerging industrial power, a major player in renewable energy, and a logistics platform connecting Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic world,” he said, pointing to developments in the automotive, aerospace, and new technology sectors.
As conveyed by the ambassador, the royal message was clear: stability and development are not ends in themselves, but the foundation of a broader continental ambition.
“The future of the Kingdom is inseparable from that of the African continent,” Abdellah Sbihi said, reaffirming Morocco’s longstanding African policy, which he described as a “diplomacy of action” centered on strategic projects and balanced partnerships.
Gabon, a “brotherly country” at the heart of South-South cooperation
The celebration was attended by Gabonese Vice President Alexandre Barro Chambrier, several members of the government, and an extensive diplomatic delegation. Ambassadors representing African, European, Asian, and American countries were also present.
The close relationship between Morocco and Gabon featured prominently in the speeches. Ambassador Sbihi described the two countries as sharing an “exemplary, brotherly partnership.” More than 25 bilateral agreements cover key sectors, including banking, telecommunications, industry, healthcare, and education.
Education, particularly for young Gabonese, remains a cornerstone of that cooperation.
“We award 180 scholarships to Gabonese students every year,” the ambassador said, emphasizing that knowledge and human capital are the foundations of sustainable development.
More than 6,700 Gabonese students have received their education in Morocco.
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The ambassador added that this extensive cooperation fully reflects the vision of an Africa that relies on its own strengths. He also welcomed what he described as the Gabonese authorities’ “renewed and unequivocal” position on the Moroccan Sahara in support of Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative, which he said is “widely recognized by the international community as the only credible, serious, and realistic basis.”
The evening also paid tribute to the Moroccan community in Gabon, numbering around 4,000 people. Their integration into Gabonese society and their contribution to the country’s development were recognized as reflecting the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
As the evening drew to a close, the celebration extended beyond the framework of a diplomatic ceremony to reaffirm Morocco’s African engagement and its role on the continent, sharing with its African partners—and with Gabon in particular—the benefits of its stability and long-term vision. In the ambassador’s words, it is the vision of an Africa that chooses “cooperation over division, development over antagonism.”
