The French Ambassador’s Visit to the Southern Provinces of Morocco: Significance and Messages
The French Embassy in Morocco announced that the French Ambassador, Christophe Lecourtier, will visit the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla from November 11 to 13. The embassy noted that the ambassador will be accompanied by a significant delegation, including those responsible for cultural, educational, and economic affairs. The purpose of the visit is to meet with local residents and authorities, understand their needs and challenges, and explore ways in which France can support economic and social development in these regions.
In a statement to “ELKHABARIYA,” Said El-Amrani, a researcher in international relations, described the visit as “a practical first step to activate agreements reached between the two countries during the recent official visit of the French President to Morocco. It also reflects France’s commitment to Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and its desire to strengthen its strategic partnership with Morocco.”
The researcher pointed out that this visit serves as “clear evidence of diplomatic movement and an explicit recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, announced by the French President, adopting Morocco’s stance on autonomy as a fair and comprehensive solution to the artificial conflict in the southern provinces.”
El-Amrani emphasized that the appearance of “the French ambassador wearing the traditional Sahrawi attire, which was presented to him as a gift from the President of the Laayoune municipality, carries significant political and diplomatic symbolism reinforcing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.”
The researcher also noted that the visit “has economic, tourism, and investment exploratory dimensions, serving as an opportunity to connect with residents of the southern provinces and address their needs within the framework of the Moroccan-French partnership, especially in investment.”
These field steps reflect French recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, embodying the speech given by French President Emmanuel Macron before both chambers of the Moroccan Parliament. During his meeting with the Mayor of Laayoune, Hamdi Ould Rachid, French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier reaffirmed France’s support, as a permanent member of the Security Council, for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and expressed backing for Morocco’s position and the autonomy initiative as a solution to the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
