Morocco Welcomes the First Regional Office of the Hague Conference in Africa – MCG24

The Council of General Affairs and Policy of the Hague Conference on Private International Law unanimously approved Morocco’s proposal to host the first regional office dedicated to the African continent on Thursday. This development marks a significant step forward in the Kingdom of Morocco’s leadership in international legal and judicial cooperation.

To ensure the success of this initiative, the Moroccan Ministry of Justice has coordinated closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, as well as with the Moroccan Embassy in the Netherlands. Together, they have worked to fulfill the legal, organizational, and political requirements necessary for establishing this office. This included drafting a seat agreement, accelerating the ratification process of relevant Hague conventions, and garnering support from member states of the Conference.

The approval session was characterized by in-depth discussions, during which the Moroccan delegation presented a detailed overview of the strategic importance of this initiative for enhancing judicial cooperation among African nations. Morocco’s proposal received overwhelming support, with 33 states expressing their full backing for this ambitious project. The regional office aims to encourage greater involvement of African nations in private international law mechanisms.

This new office will serve as a vital platform for promoting legal and judicial cooperation in Africa, facilitating the implementation of international conventions arising from the Hague Conference. It will contribute to strengthening cross-border legal security and encouraging the harmonization of judicial systems across the continent.

This success once again illustrates Morocco’s leading role in the legal and judicial field. The Kingdom is the only African and Arab country to have ratified seven major conventions from the Hague Conference on Private International Law. This initiative aligns with Morocco’s active role within regional and international organizations, particularly within the League of Arab States, where it actively contributes to the evolution of a common legal framework and the development of modern judicial mechanisms.

By welcoming this decision, Morocco reaffirms its commitment to continuing its efforts to strengthen legal and judicial cooperation both regionally and internationally. The goal is to support African nations’ aspirations towards a more harmonized and efficient judicial system, tailored to the rapid changes of the contemporary world.