Chemical Disarmament: Morocco Elected to the Presidency of the OPCW Executive Council

Morocco has just been elected by acclamation in The Hague to the Presidency of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), on behalf of the African Group, for a one‑year term starting on May 12.

This election, in the person of Mohamed BASRI, Morocco’s Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the OPCW, comes following the unanimous support given by the Group of African States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention to Morocco’s candidacy, as well as the support of all the Member States of the Executive Council.

Morocco’s presidency of this central decision‑making body reflects the country’s continued commitment to the objectives of the Convention and the sustained cooperation dynamic with the OPCW. This is evidenced by the organization in the Kingdom of several pioneering conferences, as well as numerous regional training sessions aimed at strengthening the capacities of experts, first responders, military personnel, and representatives of law‑enforcement bodies from African countries on topics such as chemical safety and security, the peaceful uses of chemistry, and the fight against chemical terrorism.

This election also reflects the recognition by OPCW member states of Morocco’s major role, constant commitment, and active contribution to the work of the Organization’s various bodies.

It should be recalled that Morocco, designated for the second time to assume the Presidency of the Executive Council—after a term served in 2021–2022—has held various positions of responsibility within OPCW bodies. These include the Presidency of the Conference of the States Parties, the OPCW’s supreme body, in 2017–2018; the Vice‑Presidency of the Executive Council on behalf of the African Group for 2025–2026; and the Vice‑Presidency of the Conference of the States Parties in 2023–2024 and 2025–2026.

As the body responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 member countries, oversees the efforts of the international community aimed at permanently eliminating chemical weapons. Since the Convention entered into force in 1997—considered the most effective disarmament treaty, eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction—more than 100% of the declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its considerable efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

Morocco signed the Chemical Weapons Convention in January 1993 and ratified it in December 1995. Since then, Morocco, which has never possessed chemical weapons, has fulfilled all its obligations under the Convention while remaining a strong advocate for the use of chemistry for peaceful purposes.