The AUSACO Coalition holds its second political conference in Dakhla

The Coalition for the Autonomy of the Sahara (#AUSACO) will bring together political representatives, academics and analysts at its second political conference, which will take place on 29 and 30 April 2025 in the city of Dakhla.

Under the theme ‘The New Realities of the Moroccan Sahara: Towards a Revised UN Approach in a Changing Geopolitical Context’, the event will analyse developments in the region and explore prospects for the future. 

Programme: 

Sunday 27 and Monday 28 April 2025 

Arrival of participants in Dakhla 

Tuesday 29 April 2025 

• 10:15 am: Arrival of participants, authorities and elected representatives at the South Atlantic Sea Fishing Chamber 
• 10:30 am: Opening ceremony of the conference. 

- Remarks by Mr Wali (5 minutes). 

- Speech by the President of the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab (5 minutes). 

- Speech by the representative of AUSACO: Ms. Amal Abed Alhaleem Ahmed Aljbour (5 minutes). 

• 11:00 a.m.: Group photo and media coverage. 
• 11:15 a.m.: Coffee break. 
• 11:30 a.m.: Start of the Conference proceedings

Panel 1: The new realities of the Moroccan Sahara 

Moderator: Mr Alphonse Zozime Tamekamta (Cameroon). 

Topics to be addressed (7-8 minutes per topic): 

1. Mr Souleymane Satigui Sidibe (Mali): Geopolitical context in the Sahel: challenges and opportunities. 
2. Mr. Javier Fernandez Arribas (Spain): The New Development Model for the Southern Provinces: a lever for socio-economic progress in the Moroccan Sahara. 
3. Mr. Antonio Stango (Italy): Advanced regionalisation in Morocco: a comparison with the Italian experience. 
4. Mr. Jérôme Besnard (France): Reading France's historic decision: a turning point for the resolution of the regional conflict. 
5. Mr. Luis Rafael Gonzalez Hernandez (Dominican Republic): Diplomacy of the Consulates General in the Moroccan Sahara. 
6. Ms. Doaa Mohamed Youssef Mohamed (Egypt): Position of Arab regional organisations (GCC-Arab League) in favour of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. 
7. Mr. Ettore Rosato (Italy): Aspects of the multidimensional strategic partnership between Morocco and Italy (security, economy and others). 
8. Mr. Ramiro Chavez Gochicoa (Mexico): The Royal Initiative for the Atlantic: towards a new transatlantic alliance. 
9. Mr. Haidara Badara Aliou (Mali): The Polisario's dark links with criminal and terrorist networks in the Sahel.

• 1:00 p.m.: Debate and exchange between panellists. 
• 1:30 p.m.: Lunch. 
• 3:00 p.m.: Resumption of the Conference. 

Panel 2: A renewed UN approach to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara 

Moderator: Mr. Christophe Boutin (France): The need for a new UN approach to the Moroccan Sahara issue. 

Topics to be addressed (7-8 minutes per topic): 

1. Mr. Harald Troch (Austria): The Moroccan autonomy initiative and the successful case of South Tyrol. 
2. Ms. Ouidad Bakkali (Italy): The Moroccan Autonomy Plan: the only viable and realistic solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. 
3. Ms. Martha Gladys Chavez Cossio (Peru): Responses to some counter-arguments on the Moroccan Sahara. 
4. Mr. Alphonse Zozime Tamekamta (Cameroon): Algeria, the main obstacle to a peaceful resolution of the regional conflict in the Moroccan Sahara. 
5. Mr. Rafael Esparza Machin (Spain): The lack of representativeness of the Polisario: Sahrawi Movement for Peace (MSP) vs. Polisario. 
6. Ms. Amal Abed Alhaleem Ahmed Aljbour (Jordan): The Tindouf camps: A unique case of systematic human rights violations with the flagrant complicity of Algeria. 
7. Mr. Gabriel Guerra Castellanos (Mexico): The need to overcome dogmatism in Latin America in order to adapt to new global geopolitical realities. 
8. Ms. Maria de Los Angeles Ramos Guillén (Spain): Reading of the Madrid Agreement (1975) and the letter sent by Spain to the UN in 1976, in which Madrid lifted the colonial mortgage on the Sahara. 
9. Mr. Ismail Buchanan (Rwanda): Algeria faced with its contradictions: failure to comply with the principles of non-interference and respect for the sovereignty of African States. 

• 5:00 p.m.: Debate and exchange between panellists. 
• 5:30 p.m.: Closing of the conference. 

Conclusions and recommendations session. 

• 8:00 p.m.: Gala dinner in honour of the participants, hosted by Mr. Wali. 

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Morning:
Visit to the ‘Atlantic Port of Dakhla’ project. 

• 1:00 p.m. Official lunch in honour of the participants, hosted by the President of the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab. 
• Afternoon: Guided tour of the city centre. 
• 8:00 p.m. Private dinner. 

Thursday, 1 May 2025 

Free day / Departure of some panellists. 

Friday, 2 May 2025 

Departure of speakers from Dakhla.