Geneva: Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita, announced the official launch of the ‘Group of Friends on Sport and Migration’, a joint initiative by Morocco and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This coalition aims to transform shared visions into actionable policies.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bourita emphasized that the initiative is rooted in a clear assessment of the current global migration trends. He stated that in a world facing continuous human movement, it is essential to utilize every available mechanism to enhance cohesion. The group acknowledges the use of sport as a tool that has been underutilized in statecraft.
Bourita highlighted the significance of migration in Morocco’s development and foreign policy, driven by the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the African Union Leader on Migration. The King views migration not as a crisis, but as an opportunity to be harnessed. For over a decade, Morocco has implemented a human-centered migration policy focusing on regularization and integration.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that sport transcends language and borders, acting as a platform for social inclusion, youth engagement, and social cohesion. Africa, being the youngest continent, finds sport to be a universal language of resilience and hope for its youth. This initiative is propelled by a shared destiny to leverage sport for integration.
Bourita noted that the global arena is filled with dialogue but lacks pragmatic platforms. The Group of Friends will serve as a sustained dialogue platform, bringing together states, institutions, federations, and civil society. It will also incubate pilot projects to showcase the connection between sport and successful integration, advocating for sport as a strategic element of migration governance.
Emphasizing the launch of a community of action rather than just a discussion platform, Bourita stated that the group, based in Geneva, will work collaboratively with existing initiatives focused on sport and migration. It will align with multilateral processes, such as the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in 2026, to converge efforts towards common goals.
The African Migration Observatory in Rabat will support this initiative by providing strategic analysis, reliable data, and evidence-based research. Bourita assured that the group’s presence in Geneva will ensure effective coordination and maximize the collective impact of their pursuits.
The Foreign Minister called for active engagement from states and partners, urging contributions to enrich the group’s work and its objectives.