"Zambia has reaffirmed its constant position concerning Morocco's right to its territorial integrity and to its sovereignty over the Sahara region. The inauguration of this consulate general today follows this logic", underlined Lombe during a joint press briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, at the end of the inauguration ceremony of this diplomatic representation in Laâyoune.
Lombe noted that this is "a sovereign act of support and solidarity" towards the Kingdom, "a true friend of Zambia", in the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, adding that the Consulate General of his country in Laayoune, as well as his embassy inaugurated on Saturday in Rabat, will help to strengthen "our bilateral relations at the political, economic and human levels".
In this regard, he praised the "fruitful cooperation" at the bilateral and multilateral levels between the two States, highlighting the support for the training of Zambian students who benefit from scholarships in Morocco.
The Zambian official also expressed his thanks to HM King Mohammed VI and to the Moroccan people for the important medical assistance provided by the Kingdom to his country in the midst of a health crisis linked to the new coronavirus (Covid-19).
He also recalled the state visit of HM King Mohammed VI to Zambia in February 2017, which was marked by the signing of nearly 19 agreements in various fields, including diplomatic consultations, economy, sciences, technology, education, mining, finance and tourism.
The inauguration ceremony of this consulate, chaired by Bourita and Lombe, took place in the presence in particular of the wali of the region of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, governor of the province of Laâyoune Abdeslam Bekrate, the president of the Regional Council Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, in addition to several diplomats, elected members and local officials.
Since the end of last year, the city of Laâyoune has witnessed a strong diplomatic dynamic with the inauguration of the consular offices of the Union of the Comoros, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini and Zambia.