France takes economic steps as prelude to full recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara

France is gradually tilting towards an outright recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory where it said Paris is ready to back Morocco’s investments.

The position to back Morocco’s economic projects in the Sahara was first expressed by French foreign minister Stephane Séjourné in February and reiterated this month by French minister in charge of foreign trade, Franck Riester.

Proparco, an offshoot of a French development agency backing the private sector, “would contribute to finance a high voltage link between Dakhla and Casablanca, a strategic project for the Kingdom,” Franck Riester said during a recent visit to Morocco.

Reister’s visit to Rabat and Casablanca was followed by a meeting in Paris between Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita and his French counterpart Séjourné

The media said the talks centered on a high-level visit to Morocco by President Ammanuel Macron.

When asked by a French TV when Paris will take a bolder stance in support of Morocco on the Sahara issue, Séjourné said that such a stance is for heads of state to discuss, hinting that Moroccan-French ties are headed towards that direction.

Morocco’s king had made it clear that the Sahara issue is the lens through which Morocco measures the sincerity of its foreign partners.

Spain, the US, most of Africa and the Arab World as well as Israel understood this and ended ambiguities by recognizing Morocco’s rights to its southern provinces and backing the autonomy option.

France, the former colonial power, is well-aware of the extent of the imperial Morocco whose borders were amputated during the colonial rule. Its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara would put the final nail in the Polisario’s coffin and deal the most severe blow to Algeria.

After a failed bet on Tebboune’s Algeria, France is losing ground in the Sahel and looks at Morocco as a credible partner who has a say in the region.

Morocco is recognized by France as a “regional power,” as Séjourné had said and France has much to gain by mending ties with Morocco instead of betting on a military-run Algeria that is deepening its isolation in the region.