Western Sahara: Morocco commits to the socio-economic modernisation of the southern provinces to bring them into line with the rest of the country

1. Social and economic revolution in the Sahara
2. Agriculture and water plans
3. Education and health
4. Infrastructure to connect Morocco
5. Atlantic port of Dakhla

Morocco's commitment to Western Sahara, or, as it is known there, the southern provinces, goes beyond geopolitical issues, which have been played out in recent weeks with the UN Security Council's backing of the Moroccan autonomy plan.

It is a strategy led by the monarchy to promote the socio-economic development of this region, replicating the successful model that has worked in the northern region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, in order to improve the living conditions of the citizens of the southern provinces and reduce inequalities with other regions. This is a strategic objective that King Mohammed VI himself has emphasised in numerous speeches over recent years.

It was Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch who highlighted this ‘socio-economic revolution’ in southern Morocco during the monthly consultation session in the House of Representatives on the general policy of development and investment in the southern provinces.

Social and economic revolution in the Sahara

In the words of Akhannouch, ‘from Guelmim to Guerguerat, the southern provinces have undergone an undeniable social and economic revolution under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King.’

The Prime Minister made clear the roadmap to be followed after UN Security Council Resolution 2797/2025, which on 31 October described Morocco's proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara as the most viable.

This roadmap involves the implementation of projects that have a positive and concrete impact on improving the quality of life of the citizens of this region and bringing it into line with the rest of Morocco, in order to reduce territorial inequalities, one of the main strategic objectives of the Moroccan monarchy.

These projects have long been focused on providing the region's inhabitants with livelihoods, infrastructure and socio-economic conditions comparable to those in the rest of the country, and target several areas that are fundamental to the population, such as agriculture, education and health.

Agriculture and water plans

With regard to the agricultural sector, the Moroccan Prime Minister emphasised, in his speech to the House of Representatives, the fundamental role that agriculture plays in the development model of the southern provinces.

Akhannouch mentioned the existence of up to 55 agricultural projects, with a budget of over 4.9 billion dirhams (456 million euros), dedicated to solidarity agriculture, irrigation and land preparation, and the establishment of vocational training centres.

The development of the agricultural sector in the region also involves addressing water scarcity, which has become more acute in recent years due to persistent droughts and is another concern for King Mohammed VI, who has stressed on several occasions, such as in his Throne Speech, the importance of water plans to address this problem.

In the case of the southern provinces, the solution to water scarcity lies in the seawater desalination plant being built in Dakhla by the French company Engie. With a budget of 2.6 billion dirhams (242 million euros), construction of the plant will be completed this year, 2025. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce around 37 million cubic metres of fresh water per year, of which 30 million will be used for agriculture and 7 million for human consumption.

The project is also committed to sustainability, as it will be powered by wind energy, which will reduce its operating costs.

Education and health

Akhannouch also referred to the educational projects that the Executive is carrying out in the southern provinces, such as the pioneering programme that aims to improve the quality of education and promote innovation.

This programme has been extended to all schools in the Dakhla region (Dakhla-Oued Eddahab), which includes 24 primary schools with 14,000 pupils and 14 secondary schools with 7,800 pupils, and to 183 primary schools and 31 secondary schools in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region.

With regard to healthcare, another of the government's priorities is the modernisation of healthcare infrastructure in the southern regions, as the Prime Minister stated before the House of Representatives.

This modernisation will begin with the refurbishment of health centres and will culminate in the inauguration, in 2027, of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Health Sciences. This is a modern university hospital located in the city of Dakhla, which will have more than 300 beds and will house faculties of medicine, biomechanical engineering, nursing and various health professions.

In addition, the growing demand for healthcare in this region will require an increase in the training of doctors: it is expected that, from 2027, between 80 and 100 professionals will be recruited each year in Laayoune; 150 per year in Guelmim from 2030; and 100 per year in Dakhla from 2030.

Infrastructure to connect Morocco

Another important aspect that Akhannouch emphasised during his speech was infrastructure, a decisive factor in connecting the country and achieving socio-economic development, imitating the model that has been developed in the north, in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region.

As the Prime Minister pointed out, ‘since the launch of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, the three regions have experienced strong socio-economic growth. The achievements and projects underway are very promising.’

Akhannouch highlighted two of these infrastructure projects in particular: the Tiznit-Dakhla motorway and the Atlantic port of Dakhla.

The motorway between Tiznit and Dakhla is a basic infrastructure project, connecting the north and south of the country and linking Morocco with the countries of the African interior. At a cost of 10 billion dirhams (932 million euros), the extension and widening of National Road 1 runs for 1,055 kilometres and will reduce travel times by 5 hours for light vehicles and 3 hours for heavy vehicles, benefiting more than 2.5 million citizens.

The three sections of the motorway, which physically connects the north and south of the country, run between Tiznit and Guelmim (114 km); Guelmim and Laayoune (436 km); and Laayoune and Dakhla (500 km). It has 16 bridges and viaducts, 6 roundabouts, 7 rest areas and 18 truck unloading areas.

Its construction involved highly complex engineering works, such as the Sakia El Hamra bridge on the last section, which is 1,700 metres long and has a maximum height of 50 metres.

Atlantic port of Dakhla

The other major infrastructure project aimed at boosting the economy of the southern provinces is the Atlantic port of Dakhla. With its construction, Morocco aims to replicate the development of the northern provinces led by the port of Tangier Med (the largest in Africa and the Mediterranean), but in this case in the south.

The aim is to replicate this model to become a key player in Atlantic trade, controlling the maritime routes that have been dominated by European ports for decades.

With an investment of around 1.04 billion euros, the port will become, when it becomes operational in 2028, the nerve centre of trade between Europe, West Africa and America, integrating the southern provinces into Morocco's economic development and strengthening its economic ties with the rest of the African continent.

In its first years of operation, the new port is expected to handle up to 35 million tonnes per year, with the aim of making Dakhla a competitive and stable platform for international trade.