The French Development Agency has pledged to invest 150 million euros ($167 million) in Western Sahara between 2025 and 2026, following France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory.
This move aims to boost development in the region, with a focus on environmental projects, water supply initiatives, and social and economic development programs.
The investment was announced after AFD chief Remy Rioux met with Moroccan officials and local leaders in Rabat and Western Sahara.
The disputed territory has been a point of contention since 1975, with Morocco considering it its own and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeking an independent state called the Sahrawi Republic. French President Emmanuel Macron has backed Morocco’s sovereignty and supported its autonomy plan as the only solution to the conflict.
During his visit to Rabat in October, deals worth over $10 billion were signed, and France pledged to open a cultural center and a consular service to process visa applications from the territory.
This development has strained relations between France and Algeria, while Morocco has gained backing from the US, Spain, Israel, and over two dozen African and Arab nations since 2020.
The UN Security Council has called on parties to negotiate a “political” and “mutually acceptable” solution to the conflict.
Despite the Polisario Front withdrawing from a UN-brokered truce, the conflict remains low-intensity.
