Laâyoune, Capital of Moroccan Sahara and Arlington of Texas Become Sister Cities

Moroccan Saharan city of Laayoune has signed a twinning agreement with American city Arlington in Texas to bolster cooperation ties between the two cities in several sectors including education, arts, culture, tourism, economy and sustainable development.
The twinning agreement was sealed Thursday in Laayoune on the occasion of a visit a delegation of U.S. mayors is paying to Moroccan Saharan provinces.
The deal was inked by president of the council of Laayoune Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid, and Arlington mayor Jim Ross, in presence of the Wali of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region Abdeslam Bekrate, President of the Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, mayor of Columbus (Ohio) Andrew Ginther and several other elected officials.
Mr. Ross praised the modern infrastructures of Laâyoune, saying he is convinced that the twinning agreement will give a new impetus to partnership between Laayoune and Arlington.
For his part, Mr. Ould Errachid said the agreement comes after the American recognition of Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory, affirming that the move opens up new partnership opportunities in the cultural, economic and political fields.
Last year, Laayoune signed a similar agreement with the city of Hollywood, Florida.
On Wednesday, Dakhla, the pearl of Moroccan Sahara, signed a twinning agreement with Columbus, Ohio’s State capital. The agreement was signed by Head of the Council of Dakhla Commune Erragheb Hormatallah and Mayor of Columbus Andrew Ginther, in presence of Wali of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region Ali Khalil, Mayor of Arlington, (TX), Jim Ross, and several other Moroccan and American officials.
The goal of the twinning accord is to strengthen cooperation between Dakhla and Columbus in various sectors of common interest, including culture and sustainable development.
U.S. Conference of Mayors President & Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the twinning agreement will foster contacts and dialogue between the two cities, hailing the impressive boom and socioeconomic development achieved by the Southern provinces of the Kingdom thanks to the far-sighted vision of King Mohammed VI.
Dakhla had already signed twinning agreements with U.S. village Great Neck (New York), Hollywood city, Peru’s “Pueblo Libre” and Senegalese tourist city of Mbour, located in the Thiès Region, southern Dakar.