France boosts ties with Laayoune via visa centre launch
France has announced the opening of a new visa application centre in Laayoune, the capital of Morocco’s southern provinces, set to be inaugurated on May 10th.
The initiative is seen as part of a broader effort to expand consular services and reinforce France’s engagement with residents in the region.
According to a report by the Moroccan government friendly Hespress on 30 April, a diplomatic source confirmed that Christophe Lecourtier, the French Ambassador to Morocco, will preside over the inauguration ceremony.
He will be accompanied by a delegation of regional officials from Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, elected representatives, and prominent tribal leaders from the Sahara.
The centre in Laayoune will be operated by TLS Contact on behalf of the authorities of France and will be responsible for handling visa application submissions.
In addition to processing visas, it will provide administrative and technical support to residents of the southern provinces, enhancing local access to French consular services.
The move is expected to significantly ease travel burdens for applicants who previously had to travel to major urban centres such as Casablanca or Rabat.
By offering services locally, the centre aims to improve the quality of assistance provided and accelerate processing times.
This development aligns with France’s earlier commitment to broaden its consular presence in Morocco, particularly in the southern territories.
It is being widely interpreted by observers as a diplomatic gesture of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan in the disputed Western Sahara, a politically sensitive region with long-standing international interest.
The presence of high-ranking French officials in Laayoune highlights growing international attention on the region’s development and is anticipated to stimulate both economic activity and administrative progress, further cementing Laayoune’s role as a key strategic hub in southern Morocco.
The opening of the visa centre not only signals a deepening of Franco-Moroccan ties but also reinforces France’s recognition of the strategic importance of the southern provinces, both in terms of diplomacy and regional development.
Hespress. Maghrebi
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