His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, addressed a message to the participants in the 82nd session of the Institute of International Law, which opened its proceedings on Sunday at the headquarters of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat.
Here follows the full text of the Royal Message, which was read out by the President of the Institute of International Law, Mohamed Bennouna.
"Distinguished Members of the Institute of International Law,
Honorable guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for the Kingdom of Morocco and the city of Rabat to host the 82nd session of the Institute of International Law.
One has had to wait more than four decades – that is since the Cairo session in 1987 – for Africa to have, once again, the privilege of hosting your deliberations. I therefore say to you: welcome once again to the continent, and welcome to Morocco.
Since it was created in 1873, the Institute of International Law has been more than just a witness to the deep changes affecting the world. It has been an astute observer, a resourceful analyst, a standard-setter and a strong voice for the legal conscience of the world. As Institute members, you have been carrying out this mission with a perseverance that is nothing short of admirable. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to your Institute in 1904 is a recognition of the masterly work performed in serving international law.
This session in Rabat is taking place at a time when international law is being strongly challenged by violent headwinds. The world is changing ever rapidly, certainties are being battered, landmarks blurred, alliances called into question; international law – now challenged in its very capacity to regulate international relations - is too often abused.
Faced with all these challenges, your Institute will no doubt manage to consolidate its reputation and confirm its vocation.
Your agenda will address a number of burning issues, including the question of pandemics. These global crises affect not only people’s health, but also the fundamental principles on which the world is founded. Given the tensions between national sovereignty, on the one hand, and international cooperation, on the other, between security imperatives and the need for solidarity, a systemic crisis does more than just disrupt the established order. It also lays bare its flaws and accelerates change. I believe it is your mission today to identify these deep changes, not simply to understand the recent past, but also to sketch out the broad outlines of a more resilient system of international law - one that can also rise to the challenges of the future.
As regards the Kingdom of Morocco, it has always based its external action on a legalistic, structured approach grounded in compliance with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. No viable order is possible without rules. My country’s diplomacy is firmly based on that conviction. We also know, however, that no major progress can be made in isolation. International dynamics are not just balancing games between states. They are based on values, on consensual principles and on institutions that are capable of properly shaping cooperation and making sure these principles can withstand the test of time.
Before closing, I wish to commend your Institute as a fervent advocate for the peaceful settlement of disputes - a position anchored in the principles of the United Nations Charter. Over time, the Institute has been able to listen to the world, to open itself up to diversity and to accommodate all cultures, all sensitivities. The fact that this session is being held in Morocco, under the chairmanship of a Moroccan who is a fervent defender of international law is, in my opinion, testimony to what I have just said.
May Morocco be, therefore, a source of inspiration for you. May Rabat be a forum for exchange and emulation, and may this 82nd Congress be the one that puts international law back where it belongs: not a part of a disenchanted utopia, but rather a lighthouse shining through mist.
Thank you.
Wassalamou alaikoum warahmatoullahi wabarakatouhou"
MAP: 24 August 2025
