(Ecofin Agency) – The French Development Agency is preparing to strengthen its investments in the regions of Laâyoune and Dakhla, in the Moroccan Sahara. A decision that she claims is in line with the vision “all Africa” shared by Paris and Rabat, but which occurs in a sensitive geopolitical context.
The French Development Agency (AFD) has announced its intention to invest in the regions of Laâyoune and Dakhla, in the Sahara, which Paris now reaffirms as Moroccan, declared the director general of the institution, Rémy Rioux (photo) , to the Moroccan public service press agency MAP.
Mr. Rioux also stressed that this decision is part of a “approach all of Africa” shared with Morocco, aimed at promoting regional cooperation.
This announcement comes in a context where France officially supported the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, which provoked a firm response from Algeria, historical support of the Polisario Front. By engaging in the regions of Laâyoune and Dakhla, Paris seems to be sending a clear message about its diplomatic positioning.
The AFD’s announcement comes after the recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, with the signing of six agreements worth 900 million euros, aimed at strengthening social inclusion and the energy transition. and support for private investments, via actors such as Proparco and the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment. These agreements complement a large-scale partnership such as the Agrifinance platform, supported by OCP and supported by AFD, which aims to structure agricultural value chains and promote innovative solutions for food security.
The AFD’s leading partner in the world, Morocco has benefited from more than 7 billion euros in financing over the last three decades.
Morocco
