From Laâyoune to Dakhla, the excitement was palpable during the first three days of this second week of November 2024. Indeed, the arrival of the French delegation, led by Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, marked the beginning of an unprecedented diplomatic and economic sequence in the recent history of Franco-Moroccan relations in the Sahara. Traveling through the two largest cities in the southern provinces, the French mission demonstrated its desire for concrete commitment throughout the territory. “The southern provinces of the Kingdom constitute the new horizon of France’s actions and strategies,” declared the French diplomat from the outset, setting the tone for a visit rich in symbols and concrete commitments.
A mission which concretizes French support for Moroccan sovereignty
The political significance of this visit cannot be underestimated. It materializes on the ground the explicit support expressed by President Emmanuel Macron in his letter addressed to HM King Mohammed VI, then during his visit to Morocco, affirming that “the present and future of the Sahara are part of the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. For El Khattat Yanja, president of the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, this mission “testifies to France’s firm desire to translate into reality its position of support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.”
A French economic offensive orchestrated by the CFCIM
The economic dimension of this visit took on particular importance thanks to the simultaneous organization of the “Morocco-France Economic Days” by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco (CFCIM). Claudia Gaudiau-Francisco, president of the CFCIM, underlined the strategic importance of these meetings: “We are convinced of the economic potential of the southern regions and we are fully committed to supporting the projects that participate in their development plan.” The delegation of around fifty French business leaders and economic decision-makers was able to explore investment opportunities in various promising sectors, including renewable energies, fishing, tourism and infrastructure. B2B meetings were organized, allowing local economic players to interact directly with their French counterparts.
Concrete projects and promising prospects
In Dakhla, Ambassador Lecourtier could not have been more explicit about French intentions: “We are working to realize France’s desire to contribute, alongside Morocco, to the consolidation of the economic development of the southern provinces. and social”. This ambition resulted in a series of meetings with local authorities and the discovery of structuring projects in the region. The delegation took note of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Regional Development Program (PDR), with a budget of more than 4.36 billion dirhams. In Laâyoune, visitors had the opportunity to discover the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), a concrete example of the region’s positioning as an innovation and research hub.
A reinforced territorial anchor for the French presence
This mission is part of a long-term strategy, as evidenced by the progressive territorial coverage of the CFCIM in the southern provinces. Since the opening of its delegations in Laâyoune in May 2017, in Dakhla in March 2019, and more recently in Guelmim in February 2024, the French Chamber has continued to strengthen its presence in the Moroccan Sahara.
For Jean-Charles Damblin, general director of the CFCIM, “these initiatives complement the actions already put in place by the Chamber as part of its mission: to support regional economic dynamism and strengthen Franco-Moroccan business ties throughout the world. the Kingdom”. For his part, Mohamed Jifer, general director of the Regional Investment Center (CRI) of Laâyoune, stressed that this visit was part of the operationalization of the agreements signed during President Macron’s recent state visit to Morocco. “Both parties are committed to creating wealth and job opportunities in the region, for the benefit of the local population,” he said.
The visit concluded on a note of optimism, with the announcement by Ambassador Lecourtier of the French desire to realize new projects “in the coming months” with stakeholders in the region. This promise, combined with the already effective presence of several French companies in the area, suggests a new era in Franco-Moroccan economic relations in the Sahara. With its 3,000 members and more than 20,000 members, the CFCIM appears more than ever as a key player in strengthening economic ties between France and Morocco, particularly in these southern provinces which, in the words of the CFCIM, represent Ambassador Lecourtier, “the new horizon” of French strategy in Morocco.
