Morocco is pushing forward with an ambitious project to establish a trade corridor linking the landlocked Sahel region to the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to bolster regional stability and strengthen its influence over Western Sahara. The plan, called the Atlantic Initiative, involves a $1.3-billion port in the former Spanish colony, which Morocco controls but is claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front.
The new port, named Dakhla Atlantic and scheduled for completion in El Argoub by 2028, is part of Morocco’s strategy to transform the economies of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and to solidify its presence in Western Sahara. The project aligns with King Mohammed VI’s vision of regional development and territorial consolidation, especially following the U.S. recognition of Western Sahara’s sovereignty in 2020.
However, the initiative faces significant hurdles. The Sahel countries have experienced military coups in recent years, leading to new leaderships eager to overturn long-standing political alliances after years of militant violence. These upheavals have also seen the three nations turn increasingly toward Russia for support, seeking to regain sovereignty and control over their resources after years under French influence.
Relations between these Sahel states and France have deteriorated, with French troops withdrawing from their military bases amid ongoing instability. Meanwhile, Algeria continues to back the Polisario Front, opposing Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara.
The region’s volatile security situation underscores the complexities of Morocco’s strategic ambitions, as it seeks to create economic links while navigating shifting alliances and ongoing conflicts in the semi-arid Sahara region.
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