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Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco this week has highlighted a new wave of French business interest in Western Sahara, an area of strategic economic potential.
Macron’s delegation, featuring over 40 prominent French business leaders, reflects a significant shift in France’s stance on Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, now viewed by Paris as a cornerstone of regional stability and growth.
This comes after the French president announced in August his country’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara region in a historic letter to Morocco’s King.
Macron’s message, sent to mark Morocco’s annual Throne Day celebrations, was a calculated strategy that positions France as one of Morocco’s top allies. In it, Macron affirmed France’s support for Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan for Western Sahara, considering it “the only basis for a just, lasting, and negotiated solution” to the conflict.
This recognition was a shift from France’s previous stance, which had supported the UN-led peace process but stopped short of endorsing Morocco’s sovereignty claim.
By acknowledging Morocco’s authority in the region, France aligned itself more closely with Rabat and responded to a growing international consensus in favor of the Moroccan proposal.
Macron’s statement emphasized that this move reflects France’s strategic vision of its relationship with Morocco, aiming to foster regional stability, economic growth, and collaborative development in Western Sahara.
The decision not only aligns France diplomatically with Rabat but also opens doors for French companies seeking to expand in the resource-rich region. Western Sahara is home to abundant resources, notably large phosphate deposits managed by Morocco’s state-owned OCP, a world leader in phosphates.
In addition to mining, the region’s Atlantic coastline supports a thriving fishing industry, already attracting firms like French seafood company Chancerelle, known for its commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing.
Chancerelle’s entry into the local market is indicative of French businesses’ wider interest in the region’s natural resources.
Étienne Giros, head of the French Council of Investors in Africa, sees Western Sahara as an ideal hub for renewable energy, a sector France and Morocco have heavily invested in.
“The sun-drenched landscape is perfect for solar energy projects that could supply not only Western Sahara but also southern Morocco. If French-Moroccan relations continue to improve, there’s potential for significant investments that will benefit both nations,” Giros said to Radio France Internationale.
While the economic outlook is promising, French companies in the region have faced legal challenges from the Polisario Front, the independence movement in Western Sahara.
The group has filed lawsuits against some French companies, alleging their presence in the region constitutes “financing colonization.”
Giros, however, views these projects as part of a broader initiative to develop local infrastructure, increase employment, and drive economic growth, benefiting local communities.
Beyond the renewable energy sector, France is keen to expand its investment in transportation infrastructure in the region, including port facilities and railway projects.
Through Proparco, the private sector arm of the French Development Agency, France is set to finance a high-voltage power line between Dakhla and Casablanca, a project that aligns with Morocco’s renewable energy targets and broader energy export ambitions.
Macron’s visit underlines France’s longstanding economic relationship with Morocco, one that includes over 1,000 French companies operating within the kingdom and significant investment in sectors like automotive, finance, and real estate.
The strategic support for Morocco’s autonomy plan signals not only diplomatic alignment but also a clear path for future French business ventures, particularly in Western Sahara’s rapidly growing sectors.
