UNOG Permanent Representatives Hail Development Momentum in Morocco’s Southern Provinces

A delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) on Tuesday hailed the development momentum in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region in various areas. In statements to the press, the delegation members, on a three-day visit to Laâyoune, said they are “impressed” by the socio-economic development, the high-quality infrastructure and the significant investments made in this region. Bahrain’s Permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Hassan Moussa Shafiai, expressed his admiration for the achievements made in Laayoune, stressing that the development momentum is strong, particularly in the areas of health, education, energy and training. These achievements, he pointed out, reflect the particular importance that Morocco attaches to development to improve the living conditions of the local population, noting that everything that was observed on the ground will be highlighted in international bodies in Geneva. He recalled that Bahrain was one of the first countries to open a consulate in the Moroccan Sahara, which reflects the excellence of the deep and distinguished relations between the two countries, welcoming Morocco’s support for the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Gulf region and in international forums. For his part, Equatorial Guinea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Juan Ndong Nguema Mbengono, said that this visit constitutes an opportunity to closely observe the climate of security and stability, as well as the efforts to strengthen basic infrastructure in the region. This visit, he added, also constitutes an opportunity to “reiterate our support for Morocco’s territorial integrity”, highlighting the brotherly relations between HM King Mohammed VI and HE President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. For his part, Yemen’s Ambassador Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Ali Mohamed Saeed Majawar, stressed that this visit was an opportunity to learn about the development projects carried out in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, particularly in the areas of education and health. This visit, he noted, has allowed the delegation members to learn about the ongoing and future projects in Laayoune, reiterating Yemen’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. The investment opportunities of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region were at the center of a meeting between the delegation members and the managing director of the Regional Investment Center, Mohammed Jaafar, who highlighted the investment opportunities, infrastructure and different productive sectors in the region, as well as the projects carried out thanks to the development model of the southern provinces of the Kingdom, launched by HM King Mohammed VI in 2015. During a meeting of the UNOG delegation with the Sheikhs of the Sahrawi tribes, the historical links which united Sahara tribes with the sultans of Morocco throughout history were highlighted. On this occasion, the Sheikhs reiterated their attachment to the glorious Alawite throne, as well as to Morocco’s territorial integrity, affirming their mobilization behind His Majesty King Mohammed VI to face all the desperate attempts which want to undermine the Kingdom’s unity and sovereignty.