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IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2019 284 Strategic Sectors | Economy & Panorama haran States(CEN-SAD), en/-joins-west--trade-bloc-eyes-export-market ognized RECs covering the North African ognized RECscoveringtheNorthAfricancountries bie” organization, classifiedbysomeasa“zom- Union(AMU), partly aresponsetotheineffectivenessofArab SA) andhasECOWAS “observer” status.Though mon MarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica(COME- African States(ECOWAS); TunisiaCom joinedthe ed membershipoftheEconomicCommunityWest in sub-SaharanAfrica:Moroccohasformallyrequest- countries tojoinregionaleconomiccommunities(RECs) Saharan AfricaisrisingrestsontherequestbyMaghreb The sense that North African engagement with sub- on engagingwiththerestofAfrica. re-engage politicallythatisdrivingrecentdiscourses potential togrow. Itmaybethisalongwiththedesireto note discusses,levelsremainlowandthushavethe tion. Thoughtheseeconomictiesarenotnew, asthis port connectionsaswellgreaterpoliticalcoopera- low risingtradeandinvestmentflows,improvedtrans- countries withsub-SaharanAfrica.Thisappearstofol- growing rhetoricaroundtheengagementofMaghreb from therestofcontinent,recentyearshavebrought Though NorthAfricahaslongbeenseenasseparate South Look Countries Maghreb Management (ECDPM), Maastricht European CentreforDevelopment Policy Karkare Poorva Byiers Bruce Maghreb Countries towards ECOWAS North More Africa than African Ever: Strategic Sectors Territory & |Economy 3 2 1 ship to different regional blocs https://ecdpm.org/dossiers/political-institutional-dynamics-regional-organisations-africa/ blocs regional different to ship gate.net/publication/323912619_Life_Death_or_Zombie_The_Vitality_of_International_Organizations G G i the consult Please r h ay an , Julia. “Life, death or zombie? The Vitality of International Organizations.” International Studies Quarterly Organizations.” International of Vitality The zombie? or death “Life, Julia. m i Online East Middle market,” export eyes bloc, trade Africa West joins “Tunisia , Lamine. nteractive map by ECDPM, based on previous work on regional integration, for an overview of African countries’ member countries’ African of overview an for integration, regional on work previous on based ECDPM, by map nteractive 1 andtheCommunityofSahel-Sa- 2 bothAfricanUnion-rec- . - portunities. ClosertieswithinandbetweenAfrican mated 2.5%ofGDPannually in ECOWAS) are said to cost each an esti- Maghreb (onlythreepercent,comparedto10percent . Thelowlevelsofintra-regionaltradeinthe relations andeconomiccooperationbetweenthese There isthereforepotentialtofurtherincreasetrade for theirtradewiththeEuropeanUnion. all trade,andthevaluesinvolvedaremuchlowerthan trade with ECOWAS is stillasmallshare of their over- though moreslowly. Nonetheless,Maghrebcountries’ Maghreb, ontheotherhand,havealsoincreased, entering themarket.ImportsfromECOWAS tothe $1.8 billion,withaparticularriseinMoroccangoods 2000 and2017,fromlessthan$200milliontoover to ECOWAS increasedalmostten-foldbetween and 39belowshow, exportsfromMaghrebcountries for North African goodsandservices. As Charts 38 Theregionisanincreasinglyimportantmarket 2014). and hasacombinedGDPof$700billion(as or a third of the total sub-Saharan African population, The ECOWAS includes 335 million people, Africa West to Links ready exist,particularlylookingatWest Africa. forts to politicallycement the economic ties thatal- cooperation. Infact,themovesmaybeseenasef- well asgreateropportunitiesfortradeandeconomic seem toalsoreflectchangingpoliticalinterestsas – theoverturestowardsECOWAS andCOMESA , 21/07/2018. https://middle-east-online.com/ . , 62(1): 1-13, 2018. www.research 3 and220,000jobop- . -

Source: ITC Trademap. ITC Source: cooperation between these regions tradeincrease relations and economic There istherefore potential to further economic benefitsforthesecountries. RECs, especially ECOWAS could potentially bring Source: ITC Trademap. ITC Source: CHART 39 CHART 38 CHART US$ million US$ million 1,000 - 1,200 - 1,400 - 1,600 - 1,800 - 2,000 - 100 - 200 - 300 - 400 - 500 - 600 - 700 - 800 - 200 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 0 - 0 - 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20072008 2009 2010 20112012 2013 2014 201520162017 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20072008 2009 2010 20112012 2013 2014 201520162017 Imports from ECOWAS from Imports ECOWAS to Exports Morocco Tunisia Tunisia Mauritania nent rolethanothersinthisregard. crisis. especially has played a more promi- cal cooperation from North Africa to deal withthis of terrorismintheregionhaspropelledfurtherpoliti- ECOWAS andWest Africamorebroadly. Thethreat in theSahelalsocontributetogrowing interest in Apart from economic interests, security imperatives Algeria Algeria Libya Egypt

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2019 285 Strategic Sectors | Economy & Territory Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2019 286 Strategic Sectors | Economy & Territory Panorama shipping linksto37portsin21countries lic enterprises.Forinstance,therearenowweekly nificant investmentsininfrastructurethroughitspub- Africa areMoroccan.Thecountryhasalsomadesig- age, halfthegoodsenteringECOWAS fromNorth region. sizeable presenceinindustries,rangingfromfood- in theregion.Privatesector companies also havea the country’s largest (public) bank has 443 limited toonlyinfrastructurehowever–Attijariwafa, from itsWest Africansubsidiaries.Itsinterestsarenot ecom company, generated43percentofitsturnover tions. Itissalat al-Maghreb, the country’s largest tel- where RoyalAirMarochas170flightsto30destina- reaps-diplomatic-gains-of-soft-power-in-africa.html 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 co’s totalexportstosub-SaharanAfrica. with theblocaccountingfor35percentofMoroc- almost 15percentayearfortwodecades, AS. MoroccanexportstoECOWAS havegrownat readmitted in2017.ItthenappliedtojoinECOW- After leavingtheAUfor33years,countrywas relations withtherestofAfricainpastfewyears. Morocco hasseenthemostdramaticchangestoits sub-Saharan Africa,eachfindingtheirownniche. lied onnationalstrategiestopursuetheirinterestsin Up untilrecently, Maghrebcountrieshavemainlyre- Relations Past on Building but Own... His to Each in ECOWAS and contribute to the growing interest imperativessecurity in the also from economic interests,Apart north-africa/mauritania-at-a-crossroads/ January-2019.pdf wp-2content/uploads/DP238-North-Africa-double-pursuit-Part-1-looking-north-moving-south--to-continent-ECDPM- moroccan-companies-thrive-in-west-africa-the-economist-says.html www.policycenter.ma/sites/default/files/OCPPC-RP1610v2.pdf 19/02/2018. https://ecdpm.org/talking-points/moroccos-accession-ecowas-building-bridges-rocking-boat/ 19/02/2018. FDI stock from US$492 to US$976 million between 2010 and 2014 (Impact Report, 2017). Report, 2010 2014 and (Impact between million US$976 to US$492 from rose stock FDI N N B L D F K Ibíd. Ibíd. ô ye o o e r e , G r r

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o Shoshana A A m fr fr f H , E. et al. (2019) “North Africa’s Double Pursuit – Part I.” Discussion paper I.” –Part Pursuit Double Africa’s (2019) al. et “North , E. i i c c ouse a a P P . ost “Relations Maroc-Afrique subsaharienne: quel bilan pour les 15 dernières années?” . ost Freedom in the world Report 2019: Mauritania Report world the in . Freedom . “ . . “Moroccan companies ‘thrive’ in West Africa – The Economist says,” 24/07/2018. says,” http://northafricapost.com/24672- Economist –The Africa West in ‘thrive’ companies . “Moroccan Mauritania at a crossroads,” African Business 2019. Magazine 18 April a crossroads,” at Mauritania . “Morocco reaps diplomatic gains of in Africa,” 10/04/2019. Africa,” in power soft of gains diplomatic reaps . “Morocco A bd e 7 rr isaregionalairtransporthub a h i m , Tasnim. “Morocco’s accession to ECOWAS: Building bridges or rocking the boat?”, ECDPM blog, blog, ECDPM boat?”, the rocking or bridges Building ECOWAS: to accession “Morocco’s , Tasnim. . . 5 Onaver- branches branches 6 inthe 4 . . https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/1999/mauritania . Nouakchott, toMaliandBurkinaFaso. Senegal, whoseeast–westroadlinksthecapital, acoastalhighwayforMoroccantradewith l’Espoir), flows alongthecountry’sRoadofHope(Routede gration withWest Africaisexpectedtobolstertrade sociation agreementwithECOWAS in2017.Inte- That maybechanging,withMauritania signing anas- amounted toUS$153millionin2015. munications. FDItoECOWAS countriesspecifically like banking,insurance,infrastructureandtelecom- ment (FDI)goestosub-SaharanAfrica,insectors percent ofMorocco’soutwardforeigndirectinvest- to AfricanDevelopmentBankestimates, stuffs tomachineryandchemicalgoods.According proach asitlooksfornewmarkets. gion, which, in turn, have shaped the country’s ap- played a crucial role in forgingrelations with the re- different compared to Algeria’s. Its private sector Tunisia’s engagements inECOWAS havebeenvery able torelyonus.” strong andAfricansisternationshavealwaysbeen the country’s links with Africa “[...] have remained AU, hammed ofMoroccosaidontheeverejoining tary unionasaffectingtheireconomicsovereignty. bloc’s movetoturnitselfintoacustomsandmone- 1999. It is said that the country viewed the regional Mauritania waspartofECOWAS beforeleavingin remains smallerthanthatofMoroccoorEgypt. ECOWAS. Evenso,tradewiththeECOWAS region since 2018,andin2017attainedobserverstatus Market forEasternandSouthernAfrica(COMESA) the region.ThecountryisamemberofCommon port linksandincreasingthepresenceofitsbanksin Tunisian governmentisnowlookingtoinvestintrans- interests havecreatedenoughmomentumsothatthe 2019. ECDPM. January 238, No. https://africanbusinessmagazine.com/region/ http://northafricapost.com/29771-morocco- OCP Research Paper . 10 https://ecdpm.org/ Theseprivate 9 November 2016. November 12 AsKingMo- Itwantsto 8 some85 . 11

reluctant toengagemilitarilyabroad. gagements withseveralcountries,thoughitremains alongside EgyptandMorocco mains oneofthelargestcontributorstoAU, &from_embed https://es.scribd.com/document/367443857/Etude-d-Impact-Sur-Les-Implications-de-l-Adhesion-Du-Maroc-a-La-Cedeao#download GDP. region’s the of 15 for percent accounting Morocco with 67 to percent, GDP ECOWAS of 78 percent from decline would dominance 19 19 18 17 16 15 of-revolutions-2095360. 14 14 13 supporting liberationmovements. historically playedinpan-Africanissues,notleast can Union.Algeriapridesitselfonthevitalroleithas reflected intheMaghrebcountries’ rolesattheAfri- the increasing interest in sub-Saharan Africa is also Though Algeria is yet to approach the RECs, part of can, especiallyECOWAS, countries. in thetradingeconomymanysub-SaharanAfri- ver, theMauritaniandiasporaplaysasignificantrole crack downonillegaltradingandsmuggling.Moreo- cut downthecostsoftradingwithitsneighboursand forafricaforum.com/egypt-looks-to-play-a-key-role-in-driving-regional-integration-in-africa/ contributions. (AU) Assembly of Heads of State. There was a clear as itassumesthechairmanshipofAfricanUnion’s ing increasinglyproactiveinAfricanaffairs,notleast encing alullunderHosniMubarak,Egyptisbecom- North Africancountries,notablyEgypt.Afterexperi- rica isnotconstrainedtotheMaghrebbutalsoother This interesttoengagemorewithsub-SaharanAf- rity roletraditionallyassumedbyAlgeria. have an impact on the future of this peace and secu- around currentelectoraleventsandprotestsmay tions donotmatchthisdynamism.Theuncertainty through continentalinstitutions,Algeria’straderela- rich historyofpoliticalcooperationintheregion Terrorism (ACSRT). the AfricanCentreforStudyandResearchon as well as African Police Organization (AFRIPOL), at theAUsinceitscreationin2002andhosts the positionofCommissionerPeaceandSecurity in the 1990s. The country has consistently held own experienceincounter-terrorism during itscivil important roleinpeaceandsecurity, buildingonits www.iol.co.za/the-star/pics-algeria-the-fulcrum-of-revolutions-2095360 B Algeria provided financial and support to several liberation movements around Africa. www.iol.co.za/the-star/pics-algeria-the-fulcrum- Africa. around movements liberation several to support military and financial provided Algeria The big five, namely Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria and , together contribute about 50 percent 50 about contribute together Nigeria, and Algeria Morocco, Africa, South Egypt, namely five, big The Algeria is not part of the G5 which it sees as an ad-hoc structure created by France and the EU ( EU the and France by created structure ad-hoc an as sees it which G5 the of part not is Algeria According to the impact report analysing the political, security and economic effects of Morocco joining the group, Nigeria’s economic economic Nigeria’s group, the joining Morocco of effects economic and security political, the analysing report impact the to According D B usiness ye e G r s r , Bruce and and , Bruce oo

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c 14 on V an andhasplayedan f e 13 h r eukelo en Thecountryre- 16 c Whileithasa e 2018 m , Jan . “Egypt looks to play a key role in driving regional integration in Africa.” www.business Africa.” in integration regional driving in role akey play to looks . “Egypt . “ Financing the ,” Discussion paper Union,” African the Financing . manufacturing sector admission would damage Nigeria’s it isargued that Morocco’s ECOWAS because by Nigeria, to Morocco’s application to strong been There has pushback There hasbeenstrongpushback Demand? Political or Realities Economic ardized withMorocco’sentry. influence andleadershipintheregioncouldbejeop- and poverty. There are also concerns that Nigeria’s ufacturing sectorandleadtohigherunemployment Morocco’s admissionwoulddamageNigeria’sman- for 75percentofECOWAS GDP. Itisarguedthat application toECOWAS byNigeria,whichaccounts ports, especiallyfromNigeria,since2015. have beenlowexceptthesignificantjumpinfuelim- from NorthAfricancountries,importstheregion 20 percent of the totalenteringECOWAS market also beenevolving;whileexportsaccountforsome ism andterrorism.Trade relationswiththeregionhave peace andsecurityconcerns of combatting extrem increasing interest,especiallygiventhesignificant on the continent. However, West Africa is also of tian privatesectortoexplorefurtheropportunities Egypt. MembershipofCOMESAallowstheEgyp- the Africa Forumin2018, closer together,bothpoliticallyandeconomically” at message ofintentfromPresidentSisi“tobringAfrica . D e G r oo 2019. ECDPM February 240, No. 17 f et al. 2019) al. et whichwas hosted by 19 of the AU’s total assessed assessed total AU’s the of

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IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2019 287 Strategic Sectors | Economy & Territory Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2019 288 Strategic Sectors | Economy & Territory Panorama External Tariff (CET)wouldalsotakeawayitsgoal Applying tariffsinlinewiththeECOWAS Common co’s abilitytocomplywithbothatthesametime. EU andECOWAS rules,castingdoubtonMoroc- ity betweenMorocco’sbilateralagreementwiththe industries. Moreover, there areissuesofcompatibil- market withEuropeangoods,underminingdomestic with the EU could mean a flooding of the regional are expressedthatMorocco’sAssociationAgreement bloc willoffsetthelossesincustomsduties, Even thoughMorocco’sfinancialcontributiontothe relations explicit political ties and growing economic attempt to render pre-existing south, this only isperhaps an increasingly to appear looking be countries African While North 22 22 21 20 of-morocco-in-ecowas-analysis/ E.g. having a US company move part of its production to Morocco so it can export to ECOWAS duty-free. ECOWAS to export can it so Morocco to production its of part move company a US having E.g. D C e h G a r r a oo Review EURASIA –Analysis,” ECOWAS in Morocco of tale “The , Jihan. f op cit op al, et . . 20 fears with theEU. and beyond,whilehonouringbilateraltradedeals suit ofgreatereconomicintegrationwithECOWAS tries donotseeanapparentcontradictionintheirpur- and trade. of becomingahubforglobalproduction,logistics also betakenintoaccount. the continentinengagingwithMaghrebmust long-term game,whiletheinterestfromrestof over engagementabroad.Intheend,itmaybea political challengesthat,ultimately, willtakepriority all Maghrebcountriesarecurrentlyfacingdomestic revolution dynamicsandon-goingpoliticalchange, continues toplayoutintheregion.Betweenpost- is farfromcertain,particularlywhilepoliticalchange bility offormalizingtheseintoregionalmemberships growing economicrelationsexplicit.But,thepossi- an attempttorenderpre-existingpoliticaltiesand ingly appeartobelookingsouth,thisisperhapsonly In conclusion,whileNorthAfricancountriesincreas- , 17/09/2018. www.eurasiareview.com/17092018-the-tale- 21 Ingeneralthough,NorthAfricancoun 22 -