French official makes an ‘historic’ visit to disputed Western Sahara
The French Culture Minister has made an ‘historic’ visit to the disputed territory of Western Sahara, signaling French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the area.
Reported by France24 on February 17th, Rachida Dati, the French Culture Minister, said “this is the first time that a French minister has come to the southern provinces,” a term used by the Moroccan government for the area
As Paris and Rabat seek to pursue further cultural integration, Dati described the visit as “historic”, as she promised to open the territory’s first French culture centre to “benefit children in the region, but also teachers, schools, students and teacher trainers,” according to France24. In Dakhla, the Western Sahara’s second biggest city, Dati said she is set to sign a cooperation agreement in the field of cinema and audiovisual art.
The territory of Western Sahara has been the basis for a long-frozen conflict between Morocco, which considers the former Spanish colony as its own, against the Algerian-backed Polisario Front.
Whilst the United Nations considers Western Sahara a “non-self-governing territory” and wishes to organize a referendum on the territory’s future, Rabat staunchly rejects this proposal, calling for Western Sahara to be an autonomous region under Morocco.
In July 2024, French President Macron said publicly that Morocco’s autonomy plan was the “only basis” to resolve the Western Sahara dispute, souring relations with Algiers.
Macron then renewed French support in October, pledging investment in the region as they alienate themselves from Algeria and move to deepen ties with Morocco.
French support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara also followed Trump’s recognition during his first term as President of the United States in exchange for Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel.
As appears typical in the international arena, the role of the United Nations seems debilitated as great powers seek to pursue their own interests. Additionally, this visit will further disrupt the relations between France and Algeria which, since the summer of 2024, has seen relations rapidly decline, as reported by Maghrebi.
France24, Maghrebi
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