In a palace in Tangier, Prince Albert II of Monaco surprised guests with an unexpected moment of spontaneity, reports VH Express. This occurred on October 10, 2024, during the 2nd Blue Africa Summit, held at the invitation of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and La Saison Bleue. The event gathered representatives from Africa and around the world, including political leaders, members of the scientific community, civil society representatives, African youth, and economic stakeholders, who adopted the Declaration: From Tangier to Nice, an Ambitious Road for the Ocean.
As the enchanting notes of Chekara—a musical style typical of northern Morocco—filled the room during a reception, the Prince, seated among the guests, rose to dance. No need for an official dance floor: in Moroccan style, the celebration took place next to the large reception tables, amidst the guests still seated at their tables.
Far from formal protocols, the Prince showcased a warm and relaxed demeanor, letting himself be carried away by the Andalusian rhythm of Chekara, eliciting knowing smiles from other guests who joined him. This moment of conviviality punctuated a stay marked by his participation in the Blue Africa Summit, an event organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, dedicated to maritime issues.
During this meeting, HSH Prince Albert II emphasized the importance of oceans for the future of the African continent and the rest of the world: « The destiny of Africa, like that of the entire planet, is intrinsically linked to that of the seas and oceans, » he stated.
After the discussions and solemn commitments of the summit, this evening provided a moment of relaxation where the Prince was able to share the joy and warmth of a Moroccan celebration with the guests. This simple yet sincere gesture reflects the affection the Prince has for Morocco and his ability to blend diplomacy with proximity to local cultures, concludes VH Express.
Declaration: From Tangier to Nice, an Ambitious Road for the Ocean
On this day, October 10, 2024, in Tangier, at the invitation of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and La Saison Bleue, we, representatives of Africa and the world—including political leaders, members of the scientific community, civil society representatives, African youth, and economic stakeholders—gathered for the 2nd Blue Africa Summit.
We commend the strong oceanic commitment of His Majesty Mohammed VI, under whose high patronage this Summit is organized for the second consecutive time on the African continent, following the African Consultation in preparation for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and the African Ocean Week (from October 7 to 9, 2024), with the ambition to raise a common and ambitious African voice.
We acknowledge HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development, and Water and Forests of the Kingdom of Morocco, his Libyan counterpart, the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, the Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, the Special Ocean Envoys to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of France for UNOC3, as well as senior representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, the Africa-Europe Foundation, and other organizations representing maritime nations.
We collectively remind the crucial importance of the ocean in the planetary environment, climate and social balances, and call for a strong, swift, and determined response to the state of emergency faced by the ocean and the overall degradation of its health.
With over 30,000 km of coastline and more than 200 million people living near the coast, Africa has significant ocean potential. The organization of the Blue Africa Summit in Tangier, not far from the Tangier Med Port, the largest port in Africa, the largest Mediterranean port, and the 19th largest port globally today, highlights this ocean potential. The value of the blue economy in the growth trajectory of the African continent generated a value of $296 billion in 2022, with projections of $576 billion by 2063.
Africa is determined to make its voice heard collectively and ambitiously at the 3rd United Nations Conference, co-organized by France and Costa Rica in June 2025, reaffirming its oceanic identity, interconnectivity, and creative strength by exploring innovative and sustainable investment mechanisms for the benefit of a sustainable blue economy.
The African continent is committed to ensuring inclusive leadership on the international stage and advancing the international cause of ocean protection, a common good for all.
Cooperation and collaboration in ocean governance offer a strategic opportunity for Africa and its partners, including Europe, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), among others, to advance a global sustainable ocean development program, provided they are pursued with concern for life and coastal populations, as well as fair and effective implementation.
Ocean Governance
Regarding ocean governance, the Summit calls for a common position and vision to tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time, particularly to implement international agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal framework, to ratify agreements such as the BBNJ agreement before UNOC3, and to finalize negotiations for a treaty aimed at eliminating plastic pollution by 2040.
The Summit calls for strengthening synergies between existing environmental organizations and international frameworks, such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the World Trade Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, among others. The Summit also calls for strengthening regional, national, and international governance frameworks for ocean protection and addressing human activities harmful to the environment. It encourages countries worldwide to sustainably manage 100% of their exclusive economic zones through plans for a sustainable ocean, reconciling economic activities with the imperative of environmental protection, and to implement integrated and inclusive spatial planning to achieve this goal. The Summit emphasizes the importance of marine protected areas and calls for their expansion, as well as support for innovative initiatives to achieve this goal, such as MedFund.
Capacity Sharing and Ocean Sciences
The Summit calls for strengthening capacity sharing, evidence-based programming, and a robust interface between science and policy, emphasizing the development of intercontinental networks for policy sharing, research, and data. To strengthen capacities in Africa, it is essential to leverage the knowledge and expertise of specialists, committing to developing data-driven policies and programs to address the challenges of ocean governance and the development of a sustainable blue economy, particularly by fostering a better understanding of the ocean and maximizing its impact and role on coastal and landlocked countries and cities.
The Summit supports and encourages African countries to support the establishment of a new mechanism, the International Platform for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS), which will assist states in accelerating actions for sustainable management and conservation of oceans (SDG 14, CBD) by proposing clear and feasible policy solutions based on the latest knowledge. This mechanism could be hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
The Summit also encourages the transformation of Mercator International, which produces the digital twin of the Ocean, into an intergovernmental organization, to support public decision-makers and develop access to knowledge.
Finance, Investments, and the Blue Economy
The Summit calls on Africa to align financial systems with regeneration and sustainable development goals through ocean governance and the blue economy, ensuring that financial flows are redirected from harmful practices to the ocean.
The Summit calls for supporting the development of a robust blue entrepreneurship ecosystem capable of having a significant impact on the ground (by and for local stakeholders) and for identifying and operationalizing innovative financing mechanisms whose potential is recognized. The Summit calls for transitioning ocean-dependent economic and human activities to more sustainable practices in areas such as fishing, maritime transport, and tourism, and welcomes the organization of a Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) that will focus on innovative and concrete initiatives in Monaco in June 2025, ahead of UNOC3.
The Summit reminds the importance of ports in global supply chains and as players in the transition to more environmentally friendly practices. The Summit calls for transitioning towards more resilient and sustainable port infrastructures and maritime transport, including improving the exchange of best practices and technologies between international partners and Africa.
Resilience
All participants commend the establishment, at the invitation of the Mayor of Nice, of the first coalition of coastal cities and regions and island states threatened by rising sea levels on the occasion of UNOC3. This coalition will meet on June 7, 2025, in Nice, gathering elected officials and representatives of these territories, representing nearly one billion citizens, including many Africans.
Partnerships
Implementing an ambitious program for the ocean and blue economy in Africa represents an opportunity for transformative collaboration between the continent and its neighbors, with the ambition of achieving continental aspirations, including the AU Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. Strengthened collaboration will also help address major ocean crises, including biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.
In this context, the Summit welcomes the Africa-Europe Roadmap for the Ocean, titled « Roadmap to 2030: Co-Piloting the Africa-Europe Partnership for the Oceans, » and recognizes the « Africa-Europe Ocean Strategy Group, » facilitated by the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF), in partnership with the African and European Commissions, as a unique platform and incubator for transcontinental action. This roadmap aims to produce large-scale impact starting in 2025 and contribute to integrating ocean governance and the blue economy into the AU-EU partnership in anticipation of UNOC3.
Thanks to the commitment of the Moroccan Government, along with that of over thirty-five countries represented today in Tangier, and the organizers of the Blue Africa Summit, an entire continent will strongly make its voice heard at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025.
Source: quid.ma
