Morocco to host first African office of Hague Conference on Private International Law

The Council on General Affairs and Policy of the Hague Conference on Private International Law approved on Thursday Morocco’s proposal to establish a regional office dedicated to Africa. This marks the first office of its kind on the continent, representing a significant milestone in Morocco’s international legal and judicial cooperation.

To bring this project to fruition, the Ministry of Justice worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, as well as the Moroccan Embassy in the Netherlands. This collaboration ensured the necessary legal, organizational, and political conditions were met, including drafting the headquarters agreement, expediting the ratification process for the Hague Conventions, and rallying support from member states of the Conference.

During the approval session, the Moroccan delegation emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative in strengthening judicial cooperation among African nations. The proposal received broad support, with 33 states endorsing it—demonstrating strong interest in enhancing African participation in private international law mechanisms.

The new regional office will play a key role in fostering legal cooperation across Africa. It will support the implementation of international conventions under the Hague Conference, facilitating the harmonization of judicial systems and enhancing cross-border legal security.

With this achievement, Morocco reaffirms its leadership in the legal and judicial field. It remains the only African and Arab country to have ratified seven major Hague Conventions. This initiative further underscores its commitment to advancing legal cooperation at regional and international levels, in alignment with global legal developments.