The taboo surrounding France’s financial participation in Moroccan projects in Western Sahara is partly lifted. Visiting Morocco, the Minister of Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, indicated, Thursday April 4, that the French Development Agency (AFD), via its subsidiary dedicated to the private sector Proparco, “could be brought” to finance a high voltage line project between Dakhla, the capital of Western Sahara, and Casablanca.
“This is the first time that Proparco can position itself to offer financing in this region”underlines a diplomatic source, while ensuring that this “does not modify France’s position in the Western Sahara issue”. During his trip to Morocco at the end of February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, reiterated “the clear and constant support of France” to the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat in 2007, but by limiting the French room for maneuver to “provisions of the United Nations Security Council”.
Without deviating from its diplomatic line, Paris had however left the door open to French economic involvement in Western Sahara. “We will support the development of this region in support of Moroccan efforts”argued Mr. Séjourné, while the green light had been given in January for Proparco’s participation in the electric highway project, which should connect Western Sahara to the main Moroccan metropolis. “It is a testimony of French goodwill towards Morocco”specifies the source from the Quai d’Orsay.
“We are very satisfied”
As early as March 31, the Moroccan press reported an official French announcement to this effect. Mentioned by Mr. Riester, Proparco’s possible commitment was interpreted by the newspapers as recognition “indirect” of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. French business circles in Morocco, where a thousand subsidiaries of French companies are present, including almost the entire CAC 40, have also reacted favorably. “We, leaders, are very satisfied with this announcement”declared to the Moroccan weekly As is the general director of Engie for the Cherifian kingdom, Loïc Jaegert-Huber.
Energy heavyweight, in which the French State is a 23.64% shareholder, Engie has been present since 2019 in a joint venture held equally with Nareva, owned by the royal holding company Al-Mada. This was formed with a view to a hybrid project combining a seawater desalination plant and a wind farm in the Dakhla area. Another French company active in Western Sahara, Sade-CGTH, a former subsidiary of Veolia, bought in March by the public works company NGE, is involved in the construction site of the future port of Dakhla Atlantique.
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