French Culture Minister starts visit to Morocco’s Sahara

French Culture Minister Rachida Dari became on Monday the first French minister to visit the Moroccan Sahara where she will open a French Institute.

Speaking to the media in Tarfaya, a city in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Rachid Dati said her visit is part of the momentum ushered by the French recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.

In July, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to King Mohammed VI saying that For France, the present and future of the Sahara territory lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.

Dati was accompanied by Moroccan culture minister Mehdi Bensaid as she met with local elected Sahraoui officials. Her visit will take her to Tarfaya, Laayoune and Dakhla.

A long advocate of Morocco’s rights to its territorial integrity, Dati told the press that the visit had a strong symbolic and political aspect.
France has promised to defend its new position in international fora as its companies announce investments in vital sectors in the territory.

During Macron’s visit to Rabat, deals worth over 10 billion dollars have been signed, covering the Sahara territory.