Rachida Dati, France’s Minister of Culture, has made a landmark visit to Western Sahara, becoming the first French official to travel there in an official capacity. During her visit, Dati described the trip as “historic” and reiterated France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory. Accompanied by her Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, she launched a French cultural mission in Laayoune, promising to establish the region’s first French cultural center. Dati also revealed her intention to sign a cooperation agreement in the region’s second city, Dakhla, which will focus on cinema and audiovisual arts. The region’s status has long been contentious: while Morocco proposes limited autonomy, the Algeria-backed Polisario Front has long fought for the region’s independence from Rabat. While France’s stance was once ambiguous, President Emmanuel Macron last year declared support for Rabat’s autonomy plan, prompting strong reactions from Algiers. Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to call for negotiations to secure a lasting solution.
Source: France 24
