Macron in Dakhla
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, takes a step forward in favor of Morocco when it comes to recognizing its sovereignty over Western Sahara. His party, La République En Marche, announced last Thursday that it will open two new headquarters in Morocco, one in Agadir and the other in Dakhla, in the Sahara, in the capital of one of the southern provinces, as Morocco considers them.
This announcement came a day before the postponement of the visit to Algeria of the French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, scheduled for this past Sunday. The reasons given to justify the sine die suspension of this visit are "diplomatic issues between the two countries", which is interpreted as the reaction of the Algiers government to the French president's move in Dakhla. Since December 10, US President Donald Trump announced his administration's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, diplomatic movements have increased markedly, especially on the Moroccan side, which has seen the opening of several consulates in Dakhla and El Aaiun by Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates and 15 African countries such as Senegal, a week ago.
Washington is looking for the right place for its consulate, once the new President Joe Biden has not reversed Trump's executive decision and a remarkable boost is expected next April 21 during the debate scheduled at the UN Security Council on the situation in the Sahara. This session has particular relevance for the resolution of the Sahara conflict, within the UN as claimed by countries such as Spain which intends to maintain neutrality, and also for the geopolitical and strategic restructuring in North Africa, the Western Mediterranean and the relations between Europe, Africa and the United States, without forgetting Russia which supports the interests of Algeria against the Moroccan initiative for a broad autonomy for the Sahara under its sovereignty.
Aware of the relevance of this session and of the support that Morocco is gaining, the Polisario Front attempted last Wednesday an incursion into the Gdeim El Shaham zone of the wall built by Morocco which was answered by the Moroccan army with the shooting of a drone causing the death, among other Polisario activists, of the head of the National Guard, Adah el Bendir. Morocco insists on its respect for the cease-fire agreement but will respond firmly to any attack. The political and diplomatic step of Macron's party is of great relevance on France's position in the upcoming debate at the UN Security Council.