Has water become a new factor for Morocco's influence on the African continent?

Economy of the East

Water has become a strategic element. Under climate change, it is no longer just a resource to be managed, but a factor of stability or tension and even a means of leverage. Morocco is facing a sharp decline in its water resources, putting it on the list of fragile states. But there is another approach that turns the challenge into an opportunity for production and impact. By drawing lessons from the drought experience, Morocco can turn this threat into a lever of influence. Not only to ensure its own water security, but also to become a provider of solutions across the African continent

Geopolitical dynamics interact with the scarcity of water resources, with renewable water resources declining by 60% in some regions. Groundwater is depleting. The issue is that water policies vary across regions, with a lack of effective regulation. Water stress is exacerbated by climate change, water-intensive agriculture, where a large proportion of the country's water resources are allocated to this sector, and rapid population growth that increases demand. Recent reports suggest that the pattern of development needs to be restructured. But this pressure is not unique to Morocco. Several countries in the Global South (e.g. India, Egypt, South Africa...) face similar challenges. What distinguishes countries in this context is their ability to turn a crisis into a source of strength.

These resources cannot be seen as mere commodities in markets, but also as tools of influence. In recent years, Moroccan authorities have initiated an important shift. Among concrete measures, work has been done to improve the provision of potable water and land irrigation. Seawater desalination projects and the creation of hydraulic networks between north and south, or even with Europe, have also been implemented. These efforts reflect the will to maintain water security locally. There is a growing awareness of the urgency of sustainable management of water resources. There are also opportunities to turn water infrastructure into offensive geostrategic tools. The goal is to utilize Moroccan expertise, offer solutions, and build water soft power at the continental level, as has been done in the field of energy.

From Green Diplomacy to Water Diplomacy: A Moroccan soft power strategy

Morocco has made great strides in energy. In two decades, it has gone from an import-dependent country to a leader in renewable energy at the African level. This was based on concrete projects such as solar power plants, a green diplomatic strategy reinforced during COP22, and a network of international partnerships. Morocco has become a model of credible policies capable of delivering concrete solutions. This success can inspire a similar strategy in water. Morocco has already started to embrace the logic of ecological transition and autonomy. It can become a reference in the field of water security, capitalizing on several advantages:

• Growing sophistication in micro-irrigation technologies.
• Strong public institutions (e.g. National Electricity and Water Office, Ministry of Equipment, water agencies) capable of fostering cooperation between local and international actors.
• Capacity for international engineering, as demonstrated in water management projects between Morocco, the EU, and other partners. Similar to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Morocco could create an African Water Center, focused on research and technical training. This center would be a platform to offer concrete solutions to sister countries, within the framework of effective solidarity and water geopolitical influence.