The challenge of the Moroccan Sahara lies primarily in its development. Recognizing this, His Majesty the King has placed great importance on this issue, dedicating part of his speech to addressing the challenges of employment and infrastructure.
“Having recently led a large delegation from the France Maroc Foundation, Peace and Sustainable Development, in southern Morocco, we can confidently attest to the quality of the steps taken, the support of the populations, and the dynamism of business leaders, civil servants, and local elected officials,” Mr. Seillan stated in a statement to MAP.
In this context, he emphasized Morocco’s “sovereign vision” of its Saharan provinces, a vision that is now shared by an increasing number of countries worldwide.
Regarding the development of West Africa, the author of the book “The Moroccan Sahara: Space and Time” highlighted the importance attached by His Majesty to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.
In his view, this emphasis on the agreement with Nigeria goes beyond a mere “bilateral project” and should be understood as part of Morocco’s broader partnerships with the countries of West Africa.