Morocco's Atlantic Sahel initiative: Regional and global perspective

The turmoil in the Sahel has led to an ever-changing political, social, and cultural landscape in the region. The region has been marginalized, having long been the target of imperialist and colonialist movements from the global North, as well as a victim of internal conflicts, civil wars, and sectarian differences. Following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the landlocked countries face many economic challenges that put them at a disadvantage on the regional and global trade map. The Atlantic Initiative was launched to break the economic isolation of these countries in order to ensure their effective integration into the international economic system. In this context, Morocco's Atlantic Initiative stands out as a strategic solution aimed at overcoming these obstacles by providing landlocked African countries with access to the Atlantic interface, opening up new prospects for economic development and regional integration. Furthermore, the thesis examines how political fallout, elite interactions, and institutional frameworks affect integration and separation efforts among developing regions. Similarly, the study highlights how the adoption of inter-country political approaches within and beyond the borders of the Sahel, such as "divide and rule" and economic pressure, has led to unrest and proved to be a dominant force in shaping the region. In this context, the study uses a qualitative research approach, conducting structured and in-depth interviews with 10 geopolitical experts from Morocco to gain insights into the Moroccan Atlantic Initiative and explore avenues for cooperation, territorial integrity, prosperity, and peace in the Sahel region, as well as in the Global South. In conclusion, the Atlantic Initiative comes at a crucial moment in the region's evolution to strengthen cooperation between Morocco and the Sahel and respond to various geopolitical complexities and security, economic, and financial challenges. Moreover, the thesis also pointed out significant obstacles, such as external political pressures and regional constraints, that must be overcome for the success of the Atlantic Initiative. Keywords: Sahel, power, Regional Integration, South-South Cooperation, Coexistence