UAE to open its Consulate General in Laayoune Next Wednesday
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will inaugurate its Consulate General in Laayoune, in the Moroccan Sahara, on Wednesday, November 4, Le360 news outlet reported, citing a governmental source.
The same source confirmed that the Emirati Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is expected in Laayoune to chair the inauguration ceremony of the diplomatic representation.
The UAE will become the first Arab country to establish a diplomatic representation in the Moroccan southern provinces, a move reiteration the Gulf country’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced his country’s intention to open a consulate General in the city of Laayoune, in the southern provinces of the Kingdom
on October 27 during a phone call with King Mohammed VI.
During the call, the Moroccan King expressed satisfaction with the decision. He described the announcement as a historic act that reflects the UAE’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, especially since the Emirates had taken part in the Green March.
Many analysts believe that the UAE’s decision could encourage other Arab countries to materialize their support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and open diplomatic representations in the Moroccan southern provinces.
The UAE consulate inauguration will give a new impetus to the diplomatic momentum in the Sahara and help assert Morocco’s legitimate sovereignty over the region.
So far, and in less than a year, 16 African countries from West Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa have opened consulates in the Sahara cities of Laayoune and Dakhla.
These are Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Gabon, The Gambia, the Republic of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Central African Republic, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Eswatini, and Zambia.
This highly significant political move shows the strong and firm support of these countries to Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and to Morocco’s territorial integrity.
