For about a month, persistent rumors had been circulating. Now, the news is confirmed: France is expanding its consular services to Morocco's southern provinces. The move carries significant symbolic and political weight, marking a concrete step toward implementing Paris's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. According to Le360, and confirmed by a source to Yabiladi, a TLS Contact center—the operator responsible for processing visa applications to France—will open in Laayoune this May. The new center will allow residents of Laayoune, Dakhla, Es-Semara, and other Saharan cities to submit their visa applications locally, without needing to travel to the French consulate in Agadir. This decision signals a tangible shift in France's diplomatic posture, aligning with recent statements from the French government on the Sahara issue. Indeed, the opening of a visa center in Laayoune goes beyond administrative convenience. It is part of a broader diplomatic momentum launched by the letter Emmanuel Macron sent to King Mohammed VI on July 30, 2024. In that letter, the French president declared unequivocally that «the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty», adding that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is, for France, «the framework within which this issue must be resolved». Since this clear stance was made public, Morocco's Saharan provinces have seen visits from several high-ranking French officials. In February, Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to Morocco, spent three days in Laayoune. Just days later, on February 17 and 18, Culture Minister Rachida Dati visited Laayoune and Dakhla. Finally, on February 25, Gérard Larcher, President of the Senate and France's third-highest-ranking official, also traveled to the region to reaffirm France's official position on the Moroccan status of the territory.
