French delegation visits Laayoune ahead of UN Security Council presidency
A delegation from the French embassy in Rabat, comprising diplomats and military personnel, visited Laayoune on Thursday, March 20. At the MINURSO headquarters, the French representatives met with senior UN mission officials to discuss the latest developments on the ground between the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the Polisario, as well as the challenges MINURSO faces in carrying out its mission.
This visit comes as Paris prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in April. The issue of Western Sahara is expected to be on the agenda, with two briefings planned: one by Russian diplomat Alexander Ivanko, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO, and another by General Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh, commander of the peacekeeping forces in the region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
12 hours ago
- Morocco World
Princess Lalla Hasnaa Participates in Mediterranean Dialogue on Connectivity at UN Summit
Rabat – Princess Lalla Hasnaa, representing King Mohammed VI, took part on Monday in the 'Summit for a Connected Mediterranean,' held at the historic Palais des Rois Sardes in Nice. The event, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together heads of state and government from Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the Gulf, along with representatives of international and regional organizations. Held on the margins of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the summit placed the Mediterranean at the heart of urgent conversations about the future of global connectivity. King Mohammed VI, in a message delivered by Princess Lalla Hasnaa at the summit, called on African nations to take greater ownership of their maritime spaces, describing the seas as vital to the continent's future. He welcomed the participation of African leaders at what he described as an 'unprecedented summit' focused on the continent's 30,000 kilometers of shared coastline. The King also lauded French President Emmanuel Macron for his dedication to ocean protection and urged African countries to move from recognizing the importance of marine resources to taking concrete steps to protect and develop them. He noted that while Africa's seas offer immense potential, they remain largely underexploited and poorly safeguarded. Far from a routine gathering, it marked a deliberate push to reimagine how countries around the sea relate to one another, by land, by sea, and through digital networks. The summit unfolded with a shared sense of purpose. Delegations laid out plans to improve transport infrastructure, expand digital links, and develop energy corridors. These announcements reflect a growing awareness that the region's future depends on cooperation rather than competition. Morocco's presence in this forum signaled its active role in shaping that future. Through the voice of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the country expressed its commitment to building stronger bridges across the Mediterranean, geographically and politically. In a world where divisions deepen and environmental threats grow, the summit in Nice stood as a reminder that connectivity is not only about cables and roads, but about trust, vision, and a willingness to act together. Tags: Morocco france tiesPrincess Lalla HasnaaUN Ocean ConferenceUNOC-3
Morocco World
13 hours ago
- Morocco World
Macron Applauds Morocco's Leadership in Ocean Conservation at UN Conference
Rabat – At the opening of the 'Africa for the Ocean' summit in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed admiration for what he described as King Mohammed VI's strong and forward-looking commitment to building a blue economy for Africa. Speaking alongside Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who represented the Moroccan monarch at the event, Macron described the King's message as 'clear' and 'decisive' in guiding the continent toward sustainable ocean development. King Mohammed VI addressed the summit with a message urging African nations to take greater ownership of their seas, which he described as central to the continent's future. Delivered by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the message welcomed the presence of African leaders at what the monarch called an 'unprecedented summit' focused on Africa's 30,000 kilometers of shared coastline. In his message, the King commended President Emmanuel Macron for his commitment to ocean protection and emphasized the pressing need for Africa to move beyond acknowledging the value of its marine resources to actively safeguarding and developing them. He warned that while the continent's seas hold immense promise, they remain largely untapped and insufficiently protected. At the core of the King's message was a conviction that Africa's oceans, if managed responsibly, could serve as a foundation for long-term prosperity across the continent. The summit, organized ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, brought together African leaders, policymakers, and international partners to reflect on the continent's ocean potential and the responsibilities that come with it. For Macron, Morocco's place at the helm felt natural. 'Morocco stands out on the continent,' he said, noting the country's efforts in ocean governance, its stance against plastic pollution, and its push for regional cooperation. 'These are not just policies, but signs of a clear vision,' he added. Macron reserved special words for the Atlantic Initiative, a project launched by King Mohammed VI to give landlocked African countries access to the Atlantic. 'This idea reflects a continental vision, one that doesn't leave any nation behind,' he said. He also linked this vision to past milestones, including the launch of Tanger Med two decades ago. 'What began as a bold idea is now the most important port in the Mediterranean,' he said. Looking ahead, Macron pointed to the upcoming opening of the Dakhla port as the next chapter in Morocco's ocean strategy. 'It marks more than infrastructure,' he said. 'It marks a determination to connect all of Africa to global maritime routes.' The French leader also reflected on the symbolism of the summit itself. 'It is not by accident that Morocco and France are co-hosting this event,' he said. 'We share a shoreline, a long-standing relationship, and a shared desire to face essential questions together.' Delegates explored ways to unlock investment for ocean-related infrastructure, ensure sustainable management of fish stocks, and build better ties between landlocked and coastal countries. Tags: Emmanuel MacronFrance Morocco tiesKing Mohammed VIUNOC-3
Morocco World
14 hours ago
- Morocco World
King Mohammed VI Urges Stronger African Action to Protect, Benefit from the Ocean
Rabat – King Mohammed VI delivered a message at the 'Africa for the Ocean' Summit in Nice, calling on African countries to take greater ownership of their oceans and seas, which he described as vital to the continent's future. The message was read by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who represented the King at the summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron. The King commended President Macron for his commitment to ocean protection, and he welcomed the participation of African leaders in what he called an 'unprecedented summit' focused on Africa's shared coastline of more than 30,000 kilometers. The monarch's message spoke of the urgent need to move from simply recognizing Africa's ocean potential to truly taking ownership of its maritime future. He noted that while Africa's seas are rich in resources, they remain underutilized and poorly protected. 'The environment is a key element of ocean governance, but it is not its only facet. The ocean is also about our food sovereignty, our climate resilience, our energy security and our territorial cohesion,' the King said. The King outlined a three-pillar strategy to reshape Africa's relationship with the ocean. He said that the ocean economy, also called the 'blue economy,' is no longer a luxury, but a strategic necessity. He cited Morocco's own national strategy, which promotes sectors like sustainable aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, port development, marine biotechnology, and responsible coastal tourism. Projects like the Tanger Med port and the planned ports of Nador West Med and Dakhla Atlantic are part of this vision. In addition, King Mohammed VI called for more coordinated African efforts to manage the ocean collectively. He said Africa must work together to build safer trade routes, protect marine biodiversity, and gain a fair share of ocean resources. The monarch said that the Atlantic Ocean must be seen not just as a border, but as a space for shared development and cooperation. The King also called for better coordination between African policies on the Atlantic and for including landlocked Sahel countries in this maritime vision by offering them reliable sea access. He recalled Morocco's 'African Atlantic States Initiative' and the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project as examples of strategic African integration. Ending his message, the King said the ocean should be seen as a space of peace, opportunity, and unity for Africa. 'The ocean is, and will remain, a link, a shared space which we must protect and turn into an area that promotes peace, stability and development.' Tags: AfricaKing Mohammed VIOcean
