It looks like the kingdom wants to reconquer the lands it lost.
Since when has Morocco been a part of West Africa or vice versa? Answer : Since the 16 th century when Moroccan armies invaded the Songhai empire, plundered the wealth and destroyed Gao the capital city of Songhai.
Today Morroco is asking to be a nember of Ecowas.For what ?
Remember the Songhai empire covered parts of what is today Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Benin, The Gambia, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.

It looks like he is a cheap imitation for gaffafi who himself was a cheap version of kinyesi

Strategically, it doesn't make any sense. Economically, it's even more senseless.

I can't really fathom what they're aiming for.

Appleyard:
Strategically, it doesn't make any sense. Economically, it's even more senseless.

I can't really fathom what they're aiming for.

Totally agreed. This is weird. Something is wrong here.

Appleyard:
Strategically, it doesn't make any sense. Economically, it's even more senseless.

I can't really fathom what they're aiming for.

It does make sense to me.
Morocco is pretty isolated at the moment. ECOWAS in West Africa is the continent's strongest regional block and a bastion of political stability cooperation and economical growth.
Northern African countries don't really cooperate with each other that much even with their close similarities. (Arabic language, Islamic religion and White/ Berber population)
I've never heard of any Free Trade or free movement protocol between North African countries. But these things Morocco stands to get from ECOWAS.
The problem Morocco has with the rest of all other African countries is the situation in the Western Sahara which Morocco lays claim to.
This was what made it quit the organization for African unity 30 years ago (hence the Moroccan absence from the reformed African Union).
Do you know that Morocco once applied to join the European Union? They now understand that isolation policies aren't helpful.
Morocco is very rich. And is able to buy political support in West Africa to further it's cause in the Western Sahara crisis.

Morocco is very rich.... so is Saudi Arabia , a country where many people dream of seeing Nigeria and all West Africa being a part of their ' Middle East Map '.

Let ' s remember Moroccans have an history of stretching their domination over two continents ,Europe and Africa.They are famous for taking advantage of the weaknesses of their partners to dominate them.

Their bid to be a member the E.U failed maybe because the Europeans still remember the Almoravid empire that ruled Morocco played a crucial role in defeating the Christians kingdoms on behalf of the Muslim ruler of Al Andalus ( Battle of Sagrajas 11th Century ).

As far as West Africa is concerned, we know from History that despite the gifts and the good wills of the Songhai King to appease the Moroccans, they took advantage of the infightings within the Songhai to invade that empire .They slaugthered tens of thousands of people and took over ( Battle of Tondibi, 1591).

With West Africa not so stable , it is possible once part of the ' family' the Moroccans push for more divisions on purpose to weaken their allies and dominate them.

Gafta waives custom duties for members of course

Arab league


The League's main goal is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries".

Seems some can be closer than like us for believe

It will be hard for North African countries to overcome their divisions. For instance Moroccans do not get along with Algerians due to an overwhelming national pride on both sides: On one hand Algerians see their nation as a modern, democratic and revolutionary state, meanwhile they see Morocco as a backward, feudal Kingdom.On the other hand Moroccans think Algeria is a country with no real history, which was created by French settlers compared to Morocco which roots go back hundreds of years in History at a time when France was not even a nation yet. The issue over Western Sahara is not helping either

panafrican:
It will be hard for North African countries to overcome their divisions. For instance Moroccans do not get along with Alegrians due to an overwhelming national pride on both sides: On one hand Alegrians see their nation as a modern, democratic and revolutionary state, meanwhile they see Morocco as a backward, feudal Kingdom.On the other hand Moroccans think Algeria is a country with no real history, which was created by French settlers compared to Morocco which roots go back hundreds of years in History at a time when France was not even a nation yet. The issue over Western Sahara is not helping either

Seems like a problem makkah can solve negus have own worry these day