What Happened: Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch as part of a two-day trip to Morocco, Radio France Internationale reported on Feb. 15. This comes amid joint efforts by both sides to advance plans to help western Sahelian countries diversify their maritime access through Morocco’s ports.

Why It Matters: Despite continued engagement, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are highly unlikely to effectively diversify their port access through Morocco in the medium term given the absence of infrastructure connecting the three countries to Morocco and major logistical and security challenges regarding the construction of the necessary transport infrastructure. However, continued efforts by the three junta-led countries to advance this initiative would suggest that Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are intent on leaving the West African Economic and Monetary Union in the medium term, given that they already enjoy sea access through coastal West African states. Regardless, Morocco will likely continue strengthening ties with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to position itself as an intermediary between the West and the junta-led countries, which helps Rabat strengthen its status as a regional leader. However, this push is set to reinforce competition between Algeria and Morocco over regional leadership, which will likely increase tensions between the two countries.

Background: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI proposed the port diversifications plan in November 2023, and Morocco, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso’s foreign ministers agreed on a roadmap to deliver on the initiative in December.