On the occasion of the 4th edition of the MD Sahara Forum, which was held on December 6 and 7, 2024 in Dakhla, Mohand Laenser, former Minister of the Interior, highlighted Morocco’s major achievements under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. His intervention particularly highlighted the 25 years of royal leadership and the 10 years of the Southern Provinces Development Program, illustrating their central role in the socio-economic development of the country.
Mohand Laenser began his speech by paying tribute to the organization of the MD Sahara Forum, while warmly thanking the organizers for their work and their welcome. He then addressed the 25 years of reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, emphasizing that these two and a half decades were marked by profound transformations, visible in all the major cities of Morocco. For him, the best way to appreciate the extent of the changes is to meet a person who left the country a few years ago and who returns today: they would certainly be surprised by the rapid and impressive evolution that has taken place. the Kingdom, particularly in the regions of the Moroccan Sahara.
Laenser observed that cities like Dakhla, Laâyoune, and Boujdour, once far from the country’s major urban centers, have now become examples of regional development, with modern infrastructure and unprecedented growth dynamics. According to him, this development is not the result of chance, but of a clear political vision and strategic governance, which dates back to the time when His Majesty King Mohammed VI was still Crown Prince. From his first actions as Prince, he advocated for a new way of considering the management of the territory and regions of Morocco.
The former minister then addressed territorial governance, one of the pillars of Her Majesty’s policy. He mentioned the words of the King, still crown prince in 1989, when he explained that it was imperative for political leaders to get out of their offices to meet citizens, resolve their problems and co-construct solutions with them. This approach was fundamental in the establishment of a local governance system closer to the concerns of the populations.
Laenser recalled that the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara also influenced this vision of governance. According to him, the settlement of this dispute cannot be dissociated from the issue of regionalization. In 2000, during the Green March speech, His Majesty reaffirmed his desire to open a dialogue for a political solution that would respect Morocco’s sovereignty over its territories. The issue of decentralization and regionalization, which has taken shape over the last two decades, has therefore been the fruit of long-term work, aimed at bringing populations closer to decision-making centers while responding to the specific needs of Saharan provinces.
Another key point of Mohand Laenser’s intervention was the presentation of the Autonomy Plan proposed by Morocco for its southern provinces. This plan, according to him, could only come from a leader confident in his people and sure of their rights. In 2007, Her Majesty launched this initiative, which was accepted as a realistic and compromise solution. This proposal, which offers broad autonomy to the Saharan provinces within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, has been hailed by many observers as being the most credible solution to end the dispute.
Laenser stressed that this initiative fits perfectly into the advanced regionalization process initiated by Morocco.. He spoke of the 1990s, a period during which the Kingdom abandoned the idea of a self-determination referendum to focus on a more pragmatic solution. That of the autonomy proposal, which was a widely accepted model, both nationally and internationally.
Advanced regionalization: A governance model adapted to the specificities of Morocco
Mohand Laenser’s intervention also highlighted the reforms undertaken as part of advanced regionalization, one of the major reforms of His Majesty’s reign. He recalled the royal speech of 2008, where His Majesty King Mohammed VI announced the creation of a consultative commission to define the contours of this regionalization. He insisted that this reform should not be a simple copy of foreign models, but that it should take into account the specificities of Morocco and the southern provinces.
-Laenser clarified that the regionalization process cannot be reduced to a simple administrative question. This is a reform based on principles of equity and solidarity between regions, allowing each territory to manage its own affairs while remaining integrated into a unitary national project. According to him, advanced regionalization constitutes a real response to development challenges, by allowing better management of resources and better distribution of investments.
The 4e edition of the MD Sahara Forum was also an opportunity to celebrate 10 years of the Southern Provinces Development Program, launched in 2013. This ambitious program aims to modernize infrastructure and improve the living conditions of the Saharan populations . Mohand Laenser spoke of the spectacular achievements accomplished during this decade: construction of roads, ports and energy infrastructure, but also development of the tourism sector and industry. He also praised the progress made in education and health, sectors crucial for the well-being of citizens.
The Southern Provinces Development Program has made it possible to strengthen the integration of the Saharan regions into the national economy, while guaranteeing autonomous management of resources. Laenser highlighted the solidarity strategy that prevails in the financing of these projects, with a significant part of the investments coming from the national budget. He clarified that these investments were not limited to physical infrastructure, but also included training and human capacity building programs, to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.
In conclusion, Mohand Laenser reaffirmed that the process of advanced regionalization and the development of the southern provinces are not isolated projects, but are part of a global vision of transformation of Morocco. This vision, carried by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is based on principles of participatory governance, decentralization and solidarity, in order to guarantee inclusive and sustainable growth in all regions of the Kingdom.
According to Laenser, advanced regionalization is now an irreversible process, which has already yielded tangible results. However, he stressed that this process is still developing and that it will be necessary to continue to strengthen the capacities of the regions so that they can fully assume their responsibilities. He also insisted on the fact that regionalization should never be seen as an obstacle to national unity, but as a means of strengthening this unity while taking into account the specificities of each region.
Thus, the 25 years of the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the 10 years of the Southern Provinces Development Program testify to Morocco’s commitment to building a prosperous and united future for all its citizens, while respecting its territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
