Latest news with #DakhlaAtlanticPort
The National
14-07-2025
- Business
- The National
The UK's endorsement of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is a welcome step
Last month, the United Kingdom took the welcome – but well overdue – move to endorse Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Moroccan Sahara. This step, for which I have long been a strong campaigner, brings the UK into line with allies such as the United States, France, Spain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the UAE, who recognise Morocco to be a trusted and dependable ally and a lynchpin for regional security in the Sahel. The Kingdom of Morocco is one of the United Kingdom's oldest allies and is a key partner across a range of issues pertinent to British and global security. The Autonomy Plan, wherein the Sahara region would be self-governed by the Sahrawi people under Moroccan sovereignty, represents the only credible and pragmatic solution to the issue. The Autonomy Plan not only proposes a peaceful resolution to this dispute, but also offers a positive vision of economic development through investment and job creation. Those opposed to the plan offer no viable, let alone positive, alternative. With the construction of the new Dakhla Atlantic Port, the UK has an opportunity to make the most of the new trade and economic development opportunities underpinned by the security outlined in the Autonomy Plan. This will support Morocco's Atlantic Initiative, which serves the noble goal of promoting interconnectivity in the Sahel by providing them with improved access to the Atlantic Ocean. The strengthening of UK–Morocco partnerships comes at a critical moment. The risks of instability in the region are not limited to migration, a lack of investment and terrorism, but as the world is looking towards the Middle East, another Iranian proxy has been allowed to strengthen in West Africa. Recent attacks by jihadist insurgents in Mali show how fragile the region can be, and the importance of ensuring that the West is taking a keen interest in the region against the backdrop of increasing Russian and Iranian presence. Security will also lead to greater trade and investment opportunities. We have already seen the potential that the £20 billion Xlinks renewable energy initiative connecting Morocco and the UK could bring. Its huge advantages hinge, of course, on the political stability that the Autonomy Plan brings. A decision to fully support this project would send a strong signal to investors and partners that the UK supports a stable framework for the region, safeguarding infrastructure that will supply a significant share of British electricity by 2030. It is disappointing that, despite strong business and political support, Britain's Labour government has not shown the level of enthusiasm that this visionary venture deserves. There is also a clear strategic reason to embrace the Autonomy Plan over the vision of the Polisario. The Polisario Front, which claims to represent the Sahrawi people, has been described as a 'separatist group'. Yet, the Polisario have links to Iran and other terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah that should worry those committed to regional stability. Zineb Riboua, a senior research fellow at the US Hudson Institute, wrote in a recent report that the Polisario receive drones and training from the IRGC and Hezbollah. In 2018, the presence of a Hezbollah training camp in Tindouf, a town in Algeria close to the Moroccan Sahara border, led to Morocco cutting diplomatic ties with Iran. More broadly, the Polisario has pursued a strategy of disorder, instability, and chaos which aligns with the Russian, Iranian, and Chinese approach to the Sahel. In the US, Congressman Joe Wilson – who described the Polisario as a 'Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilising the Kingdom of Morocco' – has introduced legislation to designate the Polisario as a foreign terrorist organisation. This ought to be followed by the United Kingdom. Last week, the Polisario attacked civilian infrastructure in Smara. Attacks on a close ally must not be tolerated – especially if they come from an Iranian-backed militia. We must be clear that those who challenge our collective values are called out by the international community and isolated in the way that their behaviour deserves.
Japan Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Morocco's Atlantic gambit: linking restive Sahel to ocean
A planned trade corridor linking the landlocked Sahel to the Atlantic is at the heart of an ambitious Moroccan project to tackle regional instability and consolidate its grip on disputed Western Sahara. The "Atlantic Initiative" promises ocean access to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger through a new $1.3-billion port in the former Spanish colony claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front but largely controlled by Morocco. But the project remains fraught with challenges at a time when military coups in the Sahel states have brought new leaderships to power intent on overturning longstanding political alignments following years of jihadist violence. The Moroccan initiative aims to "substantially transform the economy of these countries" and "the region", said King Mohammed VI when announcing it in late 2023. The "Dakhla Atlantic" port, scheduled for completion at El Argoub by 2028, also serves Rabat's goal of cementing its grip on Western Sahara after U.S. President Donald Trump recognized its sovereignty over the territory in 2020. Work takes place during the construction of the Dakhla Atlantic Port on May 26. | AFP-JIJI Morocco's regional rival Algeria backs the Polisario but has seen its relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger fray in recent months after the downing of a Malian drone. Military coups over the past five years have seen the three Sahel states pivot towards Russia in a bid to restore their sovereignty and control over natural resources after decades within the sphere of influence of their former colonial ruler France. French troops were forced to abandon their bases in the three countries, ending their role in the fight against jihadists who have found sanctuary in the vast semi-arid region on the southern edge of the Sahara. 'Godsend' After both the African Union and West African bloc ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on the new juntas, Morocco emerged as an early ally, with Niger calling the megaproject "a godsend". "Morocco was one of the first countries where we found understanding at a time when ECOWAS and other countries were on the verge of waging war against us," Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said in April during a visit to Rabat alongside his Malian and Burkinabe counterparts. Concrete blocks are made ready during the construction of the Dakhla Atlantic Port. | AFP-JIJI The Sahel countries established a bloc of their own — the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — in September 2023 but have remained dependent on the ports of ECOWAS countries like Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. Rising tensions with the West African bloc could restrict their access to those ports, boosting the appeal of the alternative trade outlet being offered by Rabat. 'Many steps to take' Morocco has been seeking to position itself as a middleman between Europe and the Sahel states, said Beatriz Mesa, a professor at the International University of Rabat. With jihadist networks like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group striking ever deeper into sub-Saharan Africa, the security threat has intensified since the departure of French-led troops. Morocco was now "profiting from these failures by placing itself as a reliable Global South partner", Mesa said. Its initiative has won the backing of key actors including the United States, France and the Gulf Arab states, who could provide financial support, according to specialist journal Afrique(s) en Mouvement. But for now the proposed trade corridor is little more than an aspiration, with thousands of kilometers (many hundreds of miles) of desert road-building needed to turn it into a reality. "There are still many steps to take," since a road and rail network "doesn't exist", said Seidik Abba, head of the Sahel-focused think tank CIRES. Rida Lyammouri of the Policy Center for the New South said the road route from Morocco through Western Sahara to Mauritania is "almost complete," even though it has been targeted by Polisario fighters. Abdelmalek Alaoui, head of the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Intelligence, said it could cost as much as $1 billion to build a land corridor through Mauritania, Mali and Niger all the way to Chad, 3,100 kilometers (1,900 miles) to the east. And even if the construction work is completed, insecurity is likely to pose a persistent threat to the corridor's viability, he said.
Ya Biladi
07-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Conference in Bordeaux highlights Moroccan Sahara's role in global development and cooperation
A conference was held on Friday evening in Bordeaux to discuss the book The Moroccan Sahara: Land of Light and Future, authored by Franco-Swiss academic Jean-Marie Heydt. The event, organized by the Moroccan Consulate General in partnership with the African Cultural Institute, brought together researchers, elected officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and members of the Moroccan community. Jean-Marie Heydt encouraged participants to gain a deeper understanding of the realities on the ground, emphasizing the Sahara's deep-rooted Moroccan identity and its African vocation. He highlighted the economic development of the southern provinces, describing them as the foundation of a «planetary and civilizational African project». He pointed to major infrastructure projects, such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, as reflections of a royal vision to promote innovative and equitable South-South cooperation. Heydt also outlined a geostrategic vision aimed at positioning the Sahara as a hub connecting Europe, Africa, and South America, bolstered by the growing influence of Moroccan companies in finance, green energy, and infrastructure. Senegalese entrepreneur Abdou Khadre Sall called on New Aquitaine to invest in development projects linked to Morocco. He praised «the Kingdom's active diplomacy» and the Atlantic Initiative, noting that «Europe's future also depends on a reciprocal partnership with Africa». Joining via video conference from Dakhla, Ahmed Kathir from the Regional Investment Center (CRI) of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab spoke about the region's investment opportunities, especially in green energy—aligned with Europe's decarbonization goals. Alain Dupouy, president of Objective Africa Future, advocated for strengthening decentralized cooperation, which he described as faster and more flexible than intergovernmental processes. Closing the event, Nouzha Sahel, Consul General of Morocco in Bordeaux, reminded attendees that «the Moroccan Sahara is not just a region in the south of the Kingdom», but a strategic area at the heart of a royal project for sustainable development and regional cooperation.
Ya Biladi
06-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Conference in Bordeaux highlights Moroccan Sahara's role in global development and cooperation
A conference was held on Friday evening in Bordeaux to discuss the book The Moroccan Sahara: Land of Light and Future, authored by Franco-Swiss academic Jean-Marie Heydt. The event, organized by the Moroccan Consulate General in partnership with the African Cultural Institute, brought together researchers, elected officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and members of the Moroccan community. Jean-Marie Heydt encouraged participants to gain a deeper understanding of the realities on the ground, emphasizing the Sahara's deep-rooted Moroccan identity and its African vocation. He highlighted the economic development of the southern provinces, describing them as the foundation of a «planetary and civilizational African project». He pointed to major infrastructure projects, such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, as reflections of a royal vision to promote innovative and equitable South-South cooperation. Heydt also outlined a geostrategic vision aimed at positioning the Sahara as a hub connecting Europe, Africa, and South America, bolstered by the growing influence of Moroccan companies in finance, green energy, and infrastructure. Senegalese entrepreneur Abdou Khadre Sall called on New Aquitaine to invest in development projects linked to Morocco. He praised «the Kingdom's active diplomacy» and the Atlantic Initiative, noting that «Europe's future also depends on a reciprocal partnership with Africa». Joining via video conference from Dakhla, Ahmed Kathir from the Regional Investment Center (CRI) of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab spoke about the region's investment opportunities, especially in green energy—aligned with Europe's decarbonization goals. Alain Dupouy, president of Objective Africa Future, advocated for strengthening decentralized cooperation, which he described as faster and more flexible than intergovernmental processes. Closing the event, Nouzha Sahel, Consul General of Morocco in Bordeaux, reminded attendees that «the Moroccan Sahara is not just a region in the south of the Kingdom», but a strategic area at the heart of a royal project for sustainable development and regional cooperation.
Morocco World
26-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
French Delegation Visits Dakhla to Explore Business Opportunities, Strengthen Cooperation
Rabat – A French delegation, led by the Mayor of Montpellier Michael Delafosse, visited the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla on Friday to explore business opportunities and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two regions. During the visit, the French delegation learned about major development projects and discovered the economic potential of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region. The visit also focused on plans to boost cooperation between the city of Dakhla and Montpellier, with a cooperation and friendship agreement expected to be signed soon. Speaking to the press, Delafosse commended the development of the region under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. He said that the long-standing relations between Morocco and France are gaining new momentum, driven by the shared commitment of the two countries' leaders. He added that local governments and economic, cultural, and sports actors will help strengthen this cooperation even further. Delafosse announced that the upcoming agreement will focus on supporting water sports, promoting cultural exchange through festivals, and encouraging sustainable economic projects, especially in renewable energy. Meanwhile, the President of Dakhla's local council, Erragheb Hormatallah, said that the visit aims to build strong, practical ties between the two cities. He added that the cooperation agreement is part of a broader effort to deepen bilateral relations, especially after France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara region. Morocco-France relations gained new momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, as well as endorsed its Autonomy Plan. During their stay, the French delegation held meetings with senior officials, including the Secretary-General of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Abdelrazzak El Kourji, and Vice President of the Regional Council, Moulay Boutal El M'Barki, as well as Monir El Houari, Director of the Regional Investment Center. The delegation was informed about the region's development in different sectors and ongoing major infrastructure projects aimed at connecting the region and boosting its potential. They also explored investment opportunities and the incentives available for investors. As part of the visit, the delegation toured several important sites, including the construction site of Dakhla Atlantic Port, the Higher Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema Professions, and the future site of MGH Energie, a company specializing in green energy and e-fuel production.
