A conference was held on Friday evening in Bordeaux to discuss the book The Moroccan Sahara: Land of Light and Future, authored by Franco-Swiss academic Jean-Marie Heydt. The event, organized by the Moroccan Consulate General in partnership with the African Cultural Institute, brought together researchers, elected officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and members of the Moroccan community. Jean-Marie Heydt encouraged participants to gain a deeper understanding of the realities on the ground, emphasizing the Sahara's deep-rooted Moroccan identity and its African vocation. He highlighted the economic development of the southern provinces, describing them as the foundation of a «planetary and civilizational African project». He pointed to major infrastructure projects, such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, as reflections of a royal vision to promote innovative and equitable South-South cooperation. Heydt also outlined a geostrategic vision aimed at positioning the Sahara as a hub connecting Europe, Africa, and South America, bolstered by the growing influence of Moroccan companies in finance, green energy, and infrastructure. Senegalese entrepreneur Abdou Khadre Sall called on New Aquitaine to invest in development projects linked to Morocco. He praised «the Kingdom's active diplomacy» and the Atlantic Initiative, noting that «Europe's future also depends on a reciprocal partnership with Africa». Joining via video conference from Dakhla, Ahmed Kathir from the Regional Investment Center (CRI) of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab spoke about the region's investment opportunities, especially in green energy—aligned with Europe's decarbonization goals. Alain Dupouy, president of Objective Africa Future, advocated for strengthening decentralized cooperation, which he described as faster and more flexible than intergovernmental processes. Closing the event, Nouzha Sahel, Consul General of Morocco in Bordeaux, reminded attendees that «the Moroccan Sahara is not just a region in the south of the Kingdom», but a strategic area at the heart of a royal project for sustainable development and regional cooperation.
