French Culture Minister Rachida Dati visited Morocco on Monday, with a significant stop in the disputed region of Western Sahara, to reinforce cultural relations between France and Morocco. Accompanied by representatives of prominent French cultural institutions, Dati traveled to Moroccan-controlled areas of Western Sahara, specifically Laayoune and Dakhla.
The trip, which aimed to deepen bilateral ties, also included a visit to Tarfaya, a southern Moroccan city, where Dati explored a 19th-century fortress and a local museum.
“It’s a political moment, a symbolic moment, and also a great historical and cultural moment because my three visits (Laayoune, Tarfaya, and Dakhla) will witness the signing of agreements in various fields of culture,” Dati remarked during her visit.
In Laayoune, Dati presided over the inauguration of a French Alliance, which is expected to provide cultural and educational support to local students and institutions in the region. The event was attended by Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, alongside other local officials.
The visit to Western Sahara is particularly significant due to the ongoing dispute over the territory. Western Sahara, a region with a contentious status, has been claimed by Morocco since the Spanish withdrawal in 1975. Despite international rulings affirming the local population’s right to self-determination, Morocco maintains control over much of the territory. Last year, France notably aligned itself with Morocco’s position on Western Sahara, a move that dramatically boosted the relationship between Paris and Rabat.
In addition to strengthening cultural diplomacy, France and Morocco agreed to expand cooperation in various areas, notably video game production. A new roadmap and letter of intent were signed, outlining plans to develop collaboration in the entertainment sector, including cinema, animation, and digital media. French institutions like the National Center for Cinema and Animated Pictures (CNC), the National Library of France (BNF), and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) played key roles during the visit.
The visit also underscores the growing political and cultural ties between the two nations. As part of her itinerary, Minister Dati is scheduled to meet with several members of the Moroccan government on Tuesday and will visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat.
This diplomatic visit, particularly its focus on the disputed region of Western Sahara, marks another chapter in the evolving Franco-Moroccan relationship, which is expected to continue deepening both politically and culturally in the years to come.
