Following the normalization of relations between Israel and Morocco, an American diplomatic representation was set up in Western Sahara. Thus, in the United States had thus recognized the « Moroccanness » of Western Sahara, a senior American official is for the first time visiting Western Sahara. This is David Schenker, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East and North Africa.
The opening of this consulate is one of President Donald Trump’s promises to the kingdom of the Sharif when he signed the normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel.
The opening of an American diplomatic representation, a promise kept
David Schenker, Deputy Secretary of State for Middle East and North Africa, is visiting Dakhla. According to the Moroccan press agency MAP, David Schenker went to the headquarters of Minurso, the UN mission, in Laayoune. The American diplomat then went to Dakhla. It is in this fishing port located in the south of the Saharawi territory that the American diplomatic representation officially settles this Sunday, January 10, 2021.
According to RFI’s colleagues, this representation will first of all take the form of a virtual consulate. There will be no full-time diplomat at the moment. The consulate will operate at full capacity later. The US Secretary of State should give more details during the day
But the process « will take months », acknowledged Sunday the American ambassador, David Fischer, after visiting one of the buildings proposed to house the consulate in Dakhla, intended to become a « regional maritime hub » thanks to an investment project. colossal piloted by Rabat.
Making Dakhla a future regional hub
Dakhla is destined to become a “regional maritime hub” serving Africa and the Canaries thanks to a major development project launched by Rabat. However, this project is partly funded by the United States. Indeed, on the occasion of the announcement of the opening of this American diplomatic representation, the Americans had provided « » financial and technical support to Moroccan private investment projects. This, by allocating an envelope of 3 billion dollars (2.4 billion euros).
Apart from the financial aspect, the Moroccan authorities consider the American validation of what it calls « its Sahara » as « a historic diplomatic breakthrough ». In recent months, around twenty countries including Comoros, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have opened diplomatic representations in Dakhla or Laâyoune, the regional capital. A diplomatic offensive that the separatists of the Polisario Front consider to be contrary to international law.
Will the change of administration in Washington lead to a questioning of Donald Trump’s choices when many voices in Congress were raised against this recognition of the “Moroccanness” of Western Sahara? This is the question for an expert in this conflict.
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