France’s Ambassador to Morocco, first European diplomat to visit Moroccan Sahara paving the way for others to follow suit
French ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier started Monday an official visit, the first of its kind, to the Moroccan Saharan cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla. He is the first European ambassador to visit Moroccan Sahara and the second diplomat of a major global power recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, after the visit paid by U.S. ambassador David Fisher to Dakhla in 2021.
The three-day trip of the French ambassador to the Moroccan Sahara is a big blow to the Algerian military rulers who spent billions of petrodollars on a lost separatist cause.
The French move, which comes after the victory of Donald trump in the presidential election, is a historical milestone. It will encourage other European countries to follow suit building on the growing international support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory.
The French ambassador travelled to the Southern provinces of the Kingdom with a large delegation of businessmen to identify joint partnership projects.
In parallel to this trip, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco (CFCIM) is organizing “Economic Days” in the regions of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, which will be attended by around fifty business leaders and economic decision-makers from Morocco and France, said France’s embassy in Rabat.
Since the opening of its delegations in Laâyoune in May 2017, in Dakhla in March 2019, and recently in Guelmim in February 2024, the CFCIM has exerted continuous efforts to promote economic partnership between France and Morocco.
The ambassador’s visit was announced by French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot during the state visit paid lately by President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI.
Mr. Barrot had reiterated his country’s determination to promote Morocco-French partnership throughout the Kingdom, including the Moroccan Sahara.
French companies will be supporting the development of Moroccan Saharan territory through investments and sustainable initiatives that benefit local populations, he had said, adding that the French ambassador to Morocco will be visiting the southern provinces to explore joint business opportunities in various sectors of common interest.
“We are going to increase our consular and cultural presence there, with a view to creating a French alliance,” he had affirmed.
In an address before the Moroccan parliament during his state visit to the Kingdom, President Emmanuel Macron had solemnly affirmed that “for France, the present and future of this territory (Sahara) lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” and that for France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved.
The French President also reaffirmed his commitment that France will further support Morocco’s efforts to promote the economic and social development of the region, for the benefit of the local populations.
“And I say this here with great emphasis: our operators and businesses will support the development of these territories (of Moroccan Sahara) through investments, sustainable initiatives, and solidarity for the benefit of local populations,” President macron had said before the Moroccan Parliament.
