French Renewable Energy Investment in Moroccan Sahara Sparks Polisario Backlash

The French company Gedia is in the sights of the Polisario. The separatist movement opposes its intention to get involved in major solar and wind energy projects in the city of Dakhla, in order to support Morocco’s orientation towards the diversification of energy sources and the achievement of sustainable development in the region. An organization affiliated with the Front has sought to write to the company and urge it to reconsider its decision, pointing to a "violation of international law," it has been learned. For the Vice-President of the International Center for Diplomacy and Dialogue of Civilizations, what the "Polisario" Front has undertaken against the French company Gedia cannot be considered an isolated incident; but is part of an ongoing approach followed for many years, consisting of disrupting any development initiative in the southern Moroccan provinces.

This strategy has been experimented with several times, he affirmed to Hespress, recalling that a phosphate ship from the Phosboucraa mine had been seized in 2017 in South Africa, when the Front exploited a network of favorable lobbies to hinder Morocco’s economic interests. The expert in diplomatic affairs notes that "depriving the region of investments means depriving citizens of employment opportunities, excluding them from the infrastructure accompanying major projects, and hindering their integration into the economic and social dynamics experienced by the southern provinces within the framework of national policies." For him, the Polisario’s discourse on human rights remains contradictory with its practices on the ground. He points out that Morocco offers its citizens investments, job opportunities and integration into the global economy, while the Front and its sponsor, Algeria, offer only marginalization and famine.

Morocco responds to these maneuvers with more openness and qualitative investments, transforming Dakhla and Laâyoune into open construction sites for major projects in the fields of renewable energies, infrastructure and industrial and logistics zones, he specified, pointing out that "the latest clear example is the signing of the twinning agreement between the French city of Dreux and the commune of Dakhla, in the presence of the managers of the company Gedia" itself. The president of "Sahrawi Youth for Peace" adds: "The main objective of this campaign lies in hindering development projects in the Moroccan southern provinces, although the interests of the Sahrawis today lie in supporting such investment initiatives that create job opportunities for young people, provide clean energy and improve infrastructure."

For the dissident of the Polisario separatist Front, "the Polisario’s attempts to thwart these projects only reflect a blatant contradiction with the interests of the population it claims to defend."