Speaking at the annual C24 meeting held from June 9 to 20, Ms. Bahiya noted that over 118 countries view the initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007, as the sole credible, serious, and realistic basis for a political resolution to the artificially created regional conflict surrounding the Moroccan Sahara.
She further highlighted that the southern provinces of the Kingdom enjoy a high degree of autonomy through legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, all while fully respecting Morocco’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The elected representative of the Moroccan Sahara also recalled that around thirty countries have opened consulates general in the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, marking the irreversible momentum of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Discussing the inclusive and multidimensional development underway in the southern provinces, Ms. Bahiya stated that the Moroccan Sahara has, for over two decades, been undergoing a profound transformation in economic, social, and diplomatic terms.
This transformation, she said, is the result of a long-term national strategy led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at fully integrating the southern provinces into the national development model. She emphasized that the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region stands at the heart of this transformation.
Thanks to this virtuous dynamic, the region has emerged as one of Morocco’s most dynamic growth hubs and a vital economic platform toward Africa. Ms. Bahiya noted that Dakhla-Oued Eddahab is experiencing strategic, inclusive, and forward-looking growth across multiple sectors.
In this context, she highlighted the massive investments being made in road, airport, and digital infrastructure to facilitate trade, ensure regional economic integration, and establish the region as a major logistics hub linking Morocco, West Africa, and Latin America.
The Moroccan Sahara representative also mentioned that Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, with its vast renewable energy potential—especially in solar and wind—hosts several large-scale projects. These initiatives not only support Morocco’s climate commitments but also attract industries seeking low-carbon solutions.
Along the same lines, Ms. Bahiya spoke of the region’s rapidly growing fishing industry, enabled by modern processes and export facilities. She added that aquaculture projects are also developing, while in agriculture, innovative irrigation using desalinated seawater is being deployed to transform arid lands into productive farmland.
Finally, she underlined Dakhla’s global reputation in tourism and private investment, especially in real estate and services, noting that the region has now become a premier destination for ecotourism and water sports.
Editorial team/le7tv