Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 02:22 PM
PARIS – With the opening of the embassies of around thirty countries since 2019, the cities of Dougla and Lyon have become, in a few years, the “epitome” of the “diplomatic advances” made by Morocco on the question of its territorial integrity. writes the pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique on Wednesday.
The two cities epitomize the “success” of the new development model for the southern provinces launched by HM King VI Mohammed VI in 2015, an article published on the magazine’s website underlined.
Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, United Arab Emirates, Gabon, Jordan, Bahrain, Djibouti … In the last four years, many countries have opened embassies there, most of which meet in these symbolic cities where they serve as the diplomatic quarter. Sahara., we observe.
“These openings of embassies, which reflect the support of many African and Arab countries for sub-Saharan Morocco, are a series of setbacks for the Polisario Front, which has tried to pressure the various ambassadors sent here,” the paper declares. Mohamed El Imam Melainin was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire in Laoun in 2019.
“Our presence here is based on convictions, Comoros and Morocco have always shared the same views at the diplomatic level, with mutual and constant support for the question of the territorial integrity of our two countries, not in international organizations. Bilateral status,” notes, for his part, the deputy of the Comoros Islands in Lyon. Omar Said Hassane, head of the embassy, said.
A “historical and emotional” dimension can also be seen in the vision of Gabon’s Ambassador General in Laâyoune, Lezin Issha Boussougou, who recalled his country’s participation in the Green March in 1975.
“This episode is in the memory of all Gabonese people, for whom the Morocco of the Sahara is beyond doubt”, insists the diplomat previously posted in Togo, who “reminds this” in the presence of the Gabonese embassy in the Sahara. Firm and unquestioning support for the Kingdom from Gabon, but a very strong relationship between the two countries.
At the geo-strategic level, the establishment of these diplomatic representations is part of the vision of HM King Mohammed VI of the need to put an end to conflicts between countries that affect African integration and the implementation of large regional economic institutions or blocs, working hand in hand for the development of the entire continent”, stresses the Embassy of Comoros.
Jeune Afrique returns to the aspects of cooperation and transfer of skills among students, stressing that these diplomatic missions are responsible for managing the daily affairs of nationals of their countries located in the southern provinces, some of whom are top institutions of the region, such as ENCG Dakhla or Laayoune University.
The Sahara’s tremendous growth in recent years has set a precedent for other countries on the continent, particularly in agriculture, irrigation, tourism, fisheries, and renewable energy. We are proposed to be deployed in this region to promote the transfer of skills”, underlines the Togolese embassy.
