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Rabat – French ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier will start his visit to Morocco’s southern provinces in Western Sahara from November 11-13.
A statement from the French embassy, shared with Morocco World News, said today that Lecourtier will visit Laayoune and Dakhla along with an embassy delegation responsible for cultural, educational, and economic affairs, among others.
The statement said the visit aims to enable the French delegation to interact with local populations in the region as well as to assess the key challenges and needs of these regions.
“The ambassador will also work to identify concrete actions that France can take to support the economic and social development of these areas for the benefit of their residents,” the embassy said.
In parallel to the visit, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco will organize “Economic Days” events in Laayoune Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla Oued Eddahab.
The events are expected to have the participation of about 50 Moroccan and French business leaders and economic decision makers.
The ambassador’s visit reflects France’s commitment towards bilateral ties with Morocco.
During his State visit in October, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue to defend and support Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
In a historic speech before the Moroccan parliament, Macron said that the present and future lies within Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
He also stressed his country’s commitment to contributing to Morocco’s development projects in Western Sahara.
“Rooted in history, respectful of realities, and promising for the future, this position is what France will implement to support Morocco in international forums. And I also say here that this position is not hostile to anyone,” Macron said in his address.
In October, France’s ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere also reiterated his country’s position adding that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the context in which the dispute must be resolved.
“The ongoing economic and social development of this region is imperative, we commend all efforts made by Morocco in this regard. France will support Morocco in this process,” he said following the UN Security Council vote on the Western Sahara latest resolution.
The French Development Agency (AFD) also confirmed the country’s plans to invest in southern Morocco.
The agency’s CEO Rémy Rioux said last week that he will visit Laayoune and Dakhla, key cities in the Sahara region, to engage with local communities. The decision aligns with what Rioux described as AFD and Morocco’s “all-Africa” approach, focusing on fostering connections across the continent.
“We see Morocco as a bridge to African countries,” Rioux told Morocco’s official news agency, MAP.
