British Analyst Highlights Benefits of Supporting Morocco’s Sovereignty over Sahara

The United Kingdom is called upon to join its allies, notably European ones, and support Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara to better benefit from the Kingdom’s strong positioning in Africa, Guy Kioni, who heads a leading diplomatic, technological, and economic affairs consultancy, said on Thursday. “In light of the recent election which saw the Labour Party return to power after 14 years, the United Kingdom faces a unique opportunity to redefine its trade and foreign policy agendas,” Mr. Kioni noted in an article published on the Business Insider Africa website. Under the title “Britain must not overlook the economic opportunity in supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara,” the analyst highlights the opportunities the Kingdom offers in the context of the UK’s strategy to strengthen its relations with countries on the African continent in the post-Brexit era. Recalling the support expressed by the world’s leading powers for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, Mr. Kioni pointed out that London is called upon to join this international momentum and, in so doing, unleash the potential for more robust economic exchanges with an important partner like Morocco. He added that, as the United Kingdom navigates a sea of post-Brexit challenges, support for Morocco’s territorial integrity “should be at the top of Labour’s foreign policy agenda.” Such an alignment should enable the UK to take advantage of Morocco’s various assets, said the analyst, citing in particular the Port Dakhla Atlantique. The port is a stark example of Morocco’s Atlantic Vision, in which Morocco would play a key role in strengthening Africa’s economic resilience, along with integrating its potentially lucrative markets with global trade routes. The Dakhla Atlantic Port is designed to connect the Sahel region to the Atlantic Ocean. Such prospects offer sub-Saharan countries such as Mali, Chad, and Niger an opportunity to connect with ongoing international trade, he noted. In his opinion, aligning with Morocco’s Atlantic Vision offers a unique opportunity to achieve a balance between strategic economic interests and shared global goals, including sustainability and security. The Dakhla Atlantic Port is a transformative project, one that not only enhances Morocco’s influence but also presents Britain with a chance to be part of an innovative, future-focused partnership, one that also reinforces the need to address security concerns with the help of regional integration, development and stability, all of which is at the heart of Morocco’s Atlantic Vision, the analyst explained. Citing renewable energies as one of the promising sectors for trade between Morocco and the UK, the author stressed that the partnership between the two countries is much larger. In this context, he believes that the 2019 UK-Morocco Association Agreement has given a new impetus to these exchanges, which are growing steadily year on year. British support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, he said, has the potential to strengthen economic ties and facilitate investment between the two countries, adding that relevant industries that can benefit include infrastructure, agriculture, and mining.  “Supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is not merely a political gesture; it is a step toward securing a foothold in Africa’s evolving economic landscape, unlocking a sustainable and prosperous future for both nations,” the expert concluded.