First International Forum on Moroccan Sahara Opens in Dakhla
An inaugural International Forum on the Moroccan Sahara opened on Wednesday in Dakhla. The forum is meant to catalyze scholarly discourse and forward-looking analysis concerning the emerging geo-economic landscape in the region.
The agenda of the forum, that is attended by scores of academics and researchers from various disciplines, features several topics, including the Sahara’s role in regional dynamics, geo-economic challenges, geopolitical complexities, and Morocco’s relations with Sahel countries.
The event provides a platform for experts and scholars to deliberate on strategies for supporting sustainable development in the Moroccan Sahara, with focus on three key axes: the Sahara’s pivotal role in the Afro-Atlantic and Sahel regions; geo-economic challenges and development prospects; and the geopolitical dynamics amidst security risks.
The Royal Initiative for the Atlantic, described as a transformative endeavor with economic, geopolitical, and strategic dimensions, will also be debated by the Forum, along with Morocco’s historical role and its enduring commitment to South-South cooperation under the King’s leadership.
Addressing the opening session, Lakhdar Abdoulbaki Mohamed, director of the Nigerian Center for Arab Studies, commended Morocco’s integrated African policy and its efforts to foster peace and stability in the region. He praised the Initiative for the Atlantic and its potential to harness African resources and capacities in a cooperative framework.
The Forum is organized by the University Institute of African, Euro-Mediterranean, and Ibero-American Studies, in partnership with the Rayonnement Center for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies, the Dakhla National School of Commerce and Management (ENCG), and the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region.
On the sidelines of the event, three cooperation agreements were inked between the Rayonnement Center, ENCG Dakhla, the Nigerian Center for Arab Studies, and the Center for Research and Regional and International Studies in Chad. The agreements translate the signatories’ commitment to scholarly collaboration and knowledge exchange beyond borders.
