France confirms €150 million investment in Sahara as ties with Morocco deepen

Monday 12 May 2025 - 10:50

By: Dakir Madiha

France confirms €150 million investment in Sahara as ties with Morocco deepen

France’s development agency AFD pledges €150 million in investments for Morocco’s southern provinces, reaffirming Paris’ recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara.

France pledges strong economic support for Morocco’s southern provinces

France has solidified its backing for Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara with a €150 million investment pledge from the French Development Agency (AFD), marking a pivotal step in Paris’ deepening diplomatic and economic engagement in the region.

AFD’s Director General, Rémy Rioux, announced the investment during a visit to Laayoune, underscoring France’s strategic pivot toward tangible economic contributions following its landmark recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the southern provinces in July 2024.

Rioux praised the region’s infrastructure and economic momentum, stating that AFD would contribute directly to job creation and development by channeling investments into key sectors. “The AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,” Rioux said. He noted being “very impressed” by recent developments, particularly those targeting youth employment.

France turns recognition into action

This announcement comes less than a year after French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara. In a personal letter to King Mohammed VI, Macron emphasized that the future of the disputed territory lies within Morocco’s framework and endorsed the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only credible political solution.

France has maintained that this position is not directed against any country. However, it comes amid growing tensions with Algeria, which continues to support the Polisario Front and rejects Morocco’s claims. Paris’ shift has triggered lobbying efforts from Algiers aimed at reversing the French stance.

Diplomatic visits strengthen new ties

Following Macron’s visit to Morocco in October 2024, French delegations have made repeated visits to the southern provinces. High-level officials, including Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, have traveled to cities such as Laayoune and Dakhla, symbolizing a new chapter in French-Moroccan relations.

AFD’s recent commitment signals a broader economic strategy. French officials have welcomed the rise of industrial zones and private enterprises in the region. AFD’s involvement is intended to encourage more foreign stakeholders to invest, with Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra positioned as a new hub for economic growth.

France expands consular access in southern Morocco

In another sign of concrete change, France has expanded its consular services to cover residents of Laayoune, Dakhla, and Es-Semara. For the first time, inhabitants of these cities can apply for French visas directly from their hometowns.

This follows the inauguration of a new TLS visa application center in Casablanca in April 2025, streamlining access to French administrative services for the region’s growing population.

A shift with long-term implications

France’s €150 million investment reflects not only its diplomatic endorsement of Morocco’s territorial claims but also a clear intention to support the economic transformation of Sahara. With AFD at the helm of this initiative, France is signaling to the international community—and to potential investors—that Morocco’s southern provinces are open for business.