In a move that underscores its strategic interest in Morocco’s southern provinces, France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), has committed 1.65 billion dirhams to support development projects in the Sahara region. The announcement was made in Laâyoune, signaling a strong and deliberate positioning by Paris in favor of regional development and cooperation.
This financial commitment reaffirms the importance France places on Morocco’s efforts to promote socio-economic growth in the southern provinces, particularly in the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla. The initiative aligns with Morocco’s New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015, which aims to boost infrastructure, employment, renewable energy, and education in the region.
According to official sources, the 1.65 billion dirhams will be channeled into a range of sectors, including water and sanitation, education, and renewable energy—areas crucial for sustainable development and local empowerment. This is not merely financial aid, but a long-term investment that echoes France’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and its vision for the future of the Sahara.
By choosing Laâyoune as the venue for this announcement, French authorities sent a clear diplomatic signal. It strengthens France’s political and economic ties with Morocco while aligning itself more openly with Rabat’s vision for the Sahara, at a time when international support for Morocco’s autonomy plan continues to grow.
This strategic engagement also reflects France’s intent to play a larger role in African regional stability and development, using Morocco as a bridge between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ultimately, this initiative not only cements Franco-Moroccan cooperation but also reinforces Laâyoune’s role as a hub of development and international interest in the Sahara region.
