France is dedicated to preserving Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity over its southern Western Saharan territories. The French Development Agency (AFD) recently announced that it will be investing €150 million in Morocco‘s southern provinces, demonstrating France’s commitment to this goal.
Remy Rioux, the director general of the agency, made the announcement from Laayoune while on a visit to the area. This visit was part of a wave of official delegation visits by French officials since Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern Western Saharan provinces was recognized for the first time.
“The AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,” Rioux told the press, noting that he is “very impressed” by the investments and the quality of infrastructure that the region witnessed recently. According to him, this helped create jobs to suit the demands of the local young. The director also praised the development of industrial zones and the presence of private businesses in the area, saying that AFD’s investment in Laayoune Sakia El Hamra is a sign to attract additional economic players.
In a letter to King Mohammed VI sent in July of last year, Emmanuel Macron said that France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern territories. Macron told the king in the letter that Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern area holds the key to the present and future of Western Sahara. He also emphasized how crucial the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is as the only workable political way to resolve the conflict.
Following the letter, Macron made a state visit to Morocco in October of the same year, during which he made the European nation’s decision public in the Moroccan parliament and stated that France’s stance is not antagonistic to anybody.
Since Algiers has been undermining Morocco’s territorial integrity for years by supporting the Polisario Front, funding its hostile terrorist attacks against Rabat, and meddling in its internal affairs, his comments were a reaction to the regime’s maneuvers and lobbying efforts against France’s newfound position.
Since Macron’s trip to Morocco, delegations of French officials have been to the North African nation, particularly to the southern area, for the first time. Among the groups who traveled to the southern regions were Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier and Minister of Culture Rachida Dati.
Expanding its consular services to Morocco’s southern provinces, namely to citizens of Laayoune, Dakhla, and Es-Semara, is another historic step that France has made.
As a result, locals will be able to apply for French visas straight from their city for the first time. During the formal opening of a new TLS visa center in Casablanca in April, which processes consular applications, France affirmed the extension of its visa services to the area.
